Hoaws awK, 



A LOCAL DRAMA OF NEW YORK LIFE, REPLETE WITH 

A STARTLING TENEMENT HOUSE FIRE SCENE, 

THE CASINO ROOF GARDEN AND LOCAL 

SCENES INCIDENTAf TO EVERY-DAY 

LIFE IN THE METROPOLIS, 

- BY - 

JOSH HART AND G. L. STOUT. 



Printed, not published, to comply with the Revised Act of Congress 



ALL RIGHTS RESERYED. 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1890, by Josh Hart and G- 
L. Stout, in the office of the Librariari of Congress, at Washington, D.C. 



NEW YORK 
1890. 



Hoaws anK, 



A LOCAL DRAMA OF NEW YORK LIFE, REPLETE WITH 

A STARTLING TENEMENT HOUSE FIRE SCENE, 

THE CASINO ROOF GARDEN AND LOCAL 

SCENES INCIDENTAL TO EVERY-DAY 

LIFE IN THE METROPOLIS, 



,d - BY - 

HART AND G. L. STOUT. 



Printed, not published, to comply with the Revised Act of Congress 



ALL RIGHTS RESKRVEB. 5 




Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1890, by°3c^EjHart and G. 
L. Stout, in the oflB.ce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C. 



NEW YORK. 
1890. 






p"- 



CAST OF CHAEACTERS. 



DADDY NOAH, an Old Jew Pawn Broker. 

JOHN MARTIN, a Mechanic on a Stnke. 

JOE JAGGERS, a Whyo. 

Mr. CHARLES RAYMOND, Proprietor of the Raymond Iron Works 

CHARLY RAYMOND, his son, 

Mr. MAYDEW, a Jeweler of the firm of May dew & Co. 

Mr. BELMONT, a Lapidary, 

ALGERNON FITZROY, a Dude. 

WALTER HERBERT, his Friend. 

MICHAEL McNAMARA, a Newly Arrived Emegrant. 

NORAH McNAMARA, his Wife. 

POLICE OFFICER NUGENT. 

ALDERMAN McGOWAN. 

WAITER AT THE CASINO. 

RUTH MARTIN, John's Wife. 

JACQUETTE, commonly called Jac, a Waif. 

ROSA SOMMERS, ] 

BLANCH DUDLEY, ' 

CORA PEARL, j ^^^^^^ -^^^^®^ ^i^^s- 

CARRIE MATERSON, J 

Mrs. JAGGERS, Joe's Mother. 

Ballet Girls, Dudes, Policemen, Detectives, Casino Roof Guests, &c. 



ACT FIEST. 

Scene First. — A room in the lower floor of a tenement house — an 
old table with a lighted candle on it E. H., three old broken chairs, 
an old arm-chair C. in which John Martin is seated — Martin is 
dressed very jDlain and is about thirty five years of age, his face is 
haggard and care worn, Kuth Martin, his wife is standing near him. 
She is dressed in an old calico wrapper and she looks half starved. 
John has his face covered with his hands. Thunder, lightning and 
storm at the opening of scene. The piece opens about five o'clock 
in the afternoon. 

EuTH. — "John, husband look up. Oh dear John, say a word tome, 
heaven sees us dear John and will send help in good time, I am not 
hungry, at least not very hungry and I don't think Mary and Luke, 
our children, are suffering; they will soon be asleep and I will go and 
see if I can borrow." 

John. — "Hush, Ruth, hush no ! no! it's not borrow, it's beg, beg, 
you mean beg." 

EuTH. — Puts her arm around his neck. "Now you are better dear 
heart, you are better, cheer up and hope. For better times will come 
to us. This distress will pass away, like the storm before the rays 
of the blessed sun." 

John. — " I hoped against hope, this strike has already lasted for 
months. I have pledged the tools of my trade until there is noth- 
ing else I can raise a dollar on. The landlord, of this miserable 
tenement, threatens to turn us out into the street if the rent is not 
paid to-morrow. What will become of us ? I see nothing but the 
poor house for my wife and children/' 

EuTH. — "John you have lost all heart, you do not speak nor act 
like yourself, our misfortunes are driving you mad and that is worse 
than all.'' 

John, — "No, no, Euth, not that; I was thinking." 

EuTH.— "Thinking of what John?" 



John. — " Why of the day when we were married. When you, a 
pretty smiling girl, with such a lovely wreath of spring flowers, and 
now see what I have brought you to — Euth ! Kuth, forgive me — 
you were happy in your home, with your father and mother till I 
lured you from it and plunged you into poverty and misery." 

Euth, — "Don't think of me John, I have never regretted the step 
I then took. We have been happy together John, and until this 
strike came, we were comfortable and could pay our way without 
asking favors of any one.'^ 

John. — " God, help us, I wonder if we shall ever see those happy 
days again." 

j^UTH. — '* John, John, you do not speak in your own voice — you 
speak so low and altered." 

John. — "I fear I am weak." 

EuTH. — " No ! no ! don't say that John, there is one resource left — 
Takes out locket from her bosom. — this locket contains the likeness and 
the grey hairs of my dead mother, it is gold, Noah, the pawn-broker 
will buy it. — Gets old shawl from flat that has been hanging there. I 
will not be gone long John, this will suit for a few days keep off the 
pangs of hunger. My mother in heaven, will look down and bless 
her gift." 

John. — " Tour mother's picture, What ! pledge that. No ! Euth, 
No ! no !" 

Euth. — " Pictures will fade, but, mothers likeness is engraved 
upon my heart and only death can efface that." 

John. — "God bless you Euth." 

Euth. — Going to door. — "I will soon be back John. Loud clap of 
thunder. "Noah's Ark is not five minutes walk from here I do not 
heed the storm, be of good cheer John, better days will come and 
when they do we will thank God for them together. Now come cheer 
heaven in its am true will aid us. Takes locket and kisses it. Dear 
dear Mother, look down from Heaven and bless your child's sacrifice. 
Kiss me John for my heart is cold. He kisses her. Now if I could 
only see you look a little cheerful. I'll soon be back, John, Exent 
door in flat. 

John. — Going to door and looking after her. . "Poor Euth her Mo- 



ther's last gift oh God will this poverty ever cease. Pistol shot, and 
voices and struggle heard outside, John shids door hastily and listens 
What's that I thought I heard a cry for help in the entry, could it hav. 
been Kuth's voice." 

Belmont. — Outside in afehle tone. "Help ! Help !" 

Jaggers. — Voice outside. "Knock him down ! Knock him down ! 

John. — "The strikers are in the street." 

Belmont. — Outside door in flat in afehle voice. "Help ! Help oh 
help." 

John. — " 'Tis the cry of some one in pain at the door.'^ Goes up and 
opejis door. Belmont staggers in. 

Belmont. — "Help me the villain took my watch — faint so faint help 
me. Do you know one. Pause. Faint so faint." 

John. — Placing Belmont in old arm chair G. — " Are you hurt sir." 

Belmont. — In afehle tone. " Yes I'm dying the villain hit me on the 
chest, 1 have known a blow on my chest would kill me, for I have suf- 
fered from heart trouble for years, it has come. My Child, my poor 
child — water water. 

John. — "Yes, yes; be composed I will fetch you water; though hea- 
ven knows its all I have to offer you." Goes off set door L. H. 

Belmont. — "To die thus away from my child; what will become of 
her, God help her, seeking to right a wrong to, oh cruel cruel fate." 
He tries to raise in chair get on his feet and falls hack stiff. Enter John 
L. with tin cup of water he goes to Belmoni. 

John. — "Here is water, drink. He looks at Belmonfsface and starts 
hack and places cup on the table. He is dead. Runs to door and calls, 
Help ! Help ! is there no one passing is there no one near — there has 
been murder done —what shall I do ? Would that Ruth were here 
she could advise me. Coming down stage. This is strange so richly 
attired and here is death — my children are starving no one knows of 
it; what if he be the means by which I may save the ones I love from 
starvation; perhaps he has money about him such as I have not seen 
for many a day; I would not rob the living but to take from the dead 
that which would save the living is no crime I don't know him, no one 
will seek him here. What if I search him and find money and then 
place the body outside in the street, — No ! No ! what fiend is tempt. 



ing me to be dishonest. After a pause. It cannot be wrong, my poor 
Ruth^s locket with her dead mother's picture in — heaven sees and will 
forgive. (Goes over to Belmont and takes from his pocket a pocket 
book filled with Bank Notes.) Money ! Money ! plenty of money; Ha! 
Ha ! (Puts his hand in the inside pocket of his coat and takes out a 
small velvet case; opens Jewel Case and starts back,) What! a dia- 
surely. After a pause. What shall I do what ought I to do. Looks 
up at door and holts it. Ruth will soon be back. Gomes down stage and 
looks around. No one sees me. (Looking at diamond.) Oh, beautiful 
diamond what are you worth, hundreds of dollars; good heaven's my 
wife, my children how happy you might be by the simple produce of this 
little glittering stone. Wildly. And its mine, mine; No ! No ! I'll not 
give it up; to whom ? the law, perhaps be has no friends, no family; he 
must be a stranger. The law would take it. No ! No ! I'll keep it no 
one shall know of it; Ruth and my children shall be happy; no more 
work, no more poverty. Let me think, let me think; it will not do 
for Ruth to come in and fiud him here; I'll hide the body in this room. 
(Goes to door and listends; takes Belmont and drags him in Room 
R. 2. E. I 

Ruth. — Knocking at door in flat. " John, John, open the door." 

John. — Appears at door L. " Whose that ? likely the officers, come 
to arrest me for his murder ." 

Ruth- — Outside at door, "John, husband, 'tis I; open the door." 

John. — Goes over and opens door in flat. " Come in." 

lixjTH. — Enters door in flat. " You thought me long John, but I 
could not help it, old Noah was out, but that young girl gave me a 
dollar on the locket. I bought some food. Takes paper bundlesfrom 
under her shawl. There's some meat and some bread. Takes out 
small bundle of wood.— and wood for a fire.'^ 

John. — Speaking very low and in a hufky voice, I am here Ruth." 

Ruth.—" Yes I know John, — Looks at him. — but, how strange you 
speak, -Oh ! John, say something to me, for I am nearly broken 
hearted." 

John. — Speaking very low to himself No more poverty, no more 
cold, no more tears." 

B,VTn,— Looking hard at him,— John.— The stage gradually gets dark. 



John. — No more struggles with want. Joy ! joy, joy." 

KuTH. — Aside, — "Merciful heavens! he has gone out of his mind. 
— Aloud to him. " John, husband, what has happened ? You speak 
so strangely and in an altered voice. I want to see your face, let me 
get a light. ^' Starts toward table. 

John. — Seizes her by the arm and brings her, G. " No ! no, I prefer 
the light that, that is the darkness. Looks around. Listen to me 
Kuth, scarcely had you been gone five minutes, when there were 
sounds as of a scuffle outside the house and I hastened to see the 
cause of it as I feared for your safety, then Ruth, I saw something 
lying near our door steps.' ^ 

Ruth. — "A something John?'* 

John. — "I saw wealth, warmth, food, sunshine, luxury , joy. I saw a 
fortune of delight, of ease and enjoyment all, all lying at my feet." 

Ruth. — " But you found something John, what was it ?" 

John. — Wildly. A light, a light, I can bear the light now. I will 
show you what will gladen your eyes. Ruth starts towards door R. 
John rushes and holds her back. No, no, not there, not there. You'll 
find a candle and matches on the table Points L. Ruth, goes over 
to table and lights candle. John, takes velvet box from his pocket opens 
it Ruth looks at it and starts. 

Ruth. — " A diamond ?" 

John. — " Yes Ruth, and such a diamond, you never saw the likes* 
Its worth, Oh, what shall I say it's worth, quite a dream of money. 
--A noise outside door in flat, John turns around and hastily conceals 
box. Spekaing wildly. No ! no, not with my life, not if I had twenty 
lives, it's mine, it's mine, and 111 not give it up to mortal man, the 
bolt, Ruth the bolt ! they shall not have it — my diamond, my treas- 
ure No ! no, keep them out, keep them out ! Jacquette, and Gharly 
Raymond outside. "Open the door." 

Jac. — " Mrs. Martin it's me, I want to see you." 

Charly. — " Yes we both want to see you." 

Ruth. — " Be calm John, 'tis only the young girl who lives with 
Daddy Noah." 

John. — Then open the door, but, not a word about the diamond." 



8 

KuTH. — " No ! John no." She goes to door and opens it. Enter 
Jacquette and Gharly Raymond. 

Jag. — Speaking as she enters. — It's only me Jac. as they call me, — 
you see I was afraid to come alone, because the strikers was in the 
street, so as Charly happened to be in the Ark, he said he would 
come with me and be my Chap. What do you call it Charly ?" 

Charly — " Chaprone.'^ 

Jac. — "Yes, chad-a-ronie. Oh, I'm so sorry Mrs. Martin, that you 
had to pledge your locket. Wlien I opened it saw the face of such 
lovely old lady in it — and there's a lock of grey hair," 

Ruth — " 'Tis my dead mother's picture and the lock of hair was 
hers.^' 

Jac. — " Ah, you must be pushed hard indeed. When you pledge it 
in the Ark, with old Daddy Noah. I don't remember my mother, I 
don't actually know whether I ever had a mother, but, if I had and I 
had her face in a picture, I'd steal afore I'd pledge it with Daddy 
Noah. WoQldn't I Charly." 

Charly — "I believe you would Jac, in fact I'm sure you would, 
and I wouldn't blame you either. 

Jac. — " So Charly was in the Ark, and I said to Charley, did'nt I 
Charly? 

Charly. — "You did I'll swear it." 

Jac. — "Says I to Charly, Charly that picture in that locket, is the 
picture of some dear friend of that poor woman, and perhaps she is 
pledging it to buy bread. Didn't I Charly ? 

Charly. — " You did Jac, and well you said it Jac, with good dis- 
cretion and good delivery too." 

Jac. — "And when I saw you burst into tears as you were leaving 
the Ark, I was certain of it. Wasn't I Charly ? 

Charly. — "Indeed you was Jac, I can say that to amoral certainty. 

Jac—" And says I Charly, didn't I?" 

Charly.—" You did." 

Jac. — " And says I Charly your father is rich says I and you al- 



9 

ways have plenty of spending money, says I, now that poor woman 
has put that locket up — take it down Charly, says I and I'll lock up 
the Ark, and we'll go and take it to her-and here it is, — Hands Ruth 
Locket. — you see I dasn't let Daddy Noah, know it-because he says, 
it's all fish that comes to his net — and if there's gold fish he'll never 
leave go of them, so Charly gave me the dollar that I gave you on it 
so I put the money in the drawer, locked up the Ark, and brought 
it here/' 

EuTH — " You^re a good girl.'' 

Jac. — "I'm not good-I'm not golden, I'm bad and brazen, some- 
times I'm a little devil, ain't I Charly ?" 

Charly, — " Yes I'll swear to that." 

Jac. — "I'm worth nothing at all if anything vexes me, I scream 
all day and all night as well. Nobody can sleep in the house where 
I am, I never work, I scatter all the clothes around. I smash all the 
windows. I set the house on fire, I'm a devil a she devil." 

Charly.—" Yes she's a devil, a devil on two sticks, but, a pretty 
little devil for all that." 

Ruth. — "You don't look as bad as that/' 

Jac. — " Oh, but, I am though." 

Ruth. — " You have a good heart." 

Jac. — "= Have I, Daddy don't say so — he says my heart is bad that 
1 was born wicked and that he only took me in out of charity — when 
my father deserted me and went off to Africa, and that he ought to 
have turned me into the street long ago to starve, but, he starves me 
in the house and beats me too when he's out of temper. Now Charly 
here is quite different from me, he's got a father who's the owner of 
the great iron mills, where the men are on the strike from." 

Ruth. — '' There's where my husband worked before this trouble 
came." 

Charly. — "He did then he's one of the strikers, well I don't blame 
him. My father is a hard man when his blood is up and will not 
give in although he knows he's wrong. Poor old governor he's always 
good to me." 

Jac.^ — " Yes Charly you're a pet." 



10 

John, — "Are you the son of Mr. Eaymond?" 

Charly. — " Yes and I'll make father take you back, if you want to 
work." 

John. — " No ! no, I thank you." 

Chaely. — " What ! I thought you were hard up, you don't want to 
work ? you're not sick, are you V" 

EuTH. — " My husband is far from being well." 

Charly. — " Ah ! that alters the case, here's a couple of five-dollar 
bills to make the pot boil." Offers money to Ruth. 

Ruth. — " Oh you have a good heart Mr, Raymond, but, we don't 
want the money now do we John." 

John. — Speaking very quickly "Yes we do, wedoindeed. A brave 
lad. — Aside to Ruth. Take the money for the present, they may 
suspect something.'' , 

Ruth. — Aside to him. " But we have money now John." 

John. — Aside to her. "Peace peace, it^s too soon. We must be weary, 
weary and cautious to account for the possession wealth like ours, 
you see there might be enquiries, there might be suspicions, alarm 
piece, seem poor yet awhile till I can think/' 

Ruth, — Aside to him. "Ah ! yes I see, now the money the jewel 
is not ours." 

John. — "Yes, yes, go to him and thank him.'' 

Ruth. — To Charley. May heaven bless and reward you Mr. Ray- 
mond." 

Charly — Don't call me Mr. Raymond, call me Charly, everybody 
calls me Charly, dont they Jac." 

Jag. — Who has been taking an inventory of the furniture, turning 
over the chairs and looking at their extension table. C. G. " Indeed 
they do Charly. — Let me see if you brought all this furniture, to 
Daddy Noah, he'd offer you about two dollars for it. Why you see 
Mam. the first day Charly came into the Ark, you came to get a loan 
from Daddy, didn't you Charly ?" 

Charly. — " Yes I was pretty hard up and the governor, would'nt 
come down." 



11 

Jac. — " And so you hocked your watch, didn't you Charly." 

Charly. — "Yes, and 1 told the governor, some one rung it on me, 
and he gave me money to buy another, so I took the old one down and 
spent the rest of the money.'^ 

Jao. — " Ah ? Daddy, will advance money on anything, he advanced 
money on a couple of white mice to a school-boy, and was not re- 
paid. He had to feed the mice for a week, he says they cost him a 
fortune, so he put them in the window of the Ark, but though it 
brought all the children to the glass there come no buyers and at 
last Daddy was forced to drown them; it drove him crazy aud now 
wheu ever any one comes to hock anything that wont sell he says: 
*Take it out, it's the white mice/ " 

Charly. — " Daddy Noah is an old cat but he don^t like mice." 

Jac. — " But I must go should Daddy come home and find the Ark 
locked up wouldn't I catch it neither — he is old; but, he has'nt lost 
his strength yet as my back can testify he ssljs I'm good for nothing, 
he says I'm lazy." 

Charly. — " But you're not lazy Jac I can swear to that, he keeps 
you moving around the Ark pretty lively; you attend to all the busi- 
ness; why the Ark wouldn't float without you/' 

Jac. — "Daddy's the biggest beast in the Ark he's the lion — I'm 
only the lamb, except when I get mad then I'm the tigress and I use 
my claws." 

Charly. — "Daddy's a queer fellow — ^he's the best judge of diamonds 
in the city." 

John. — Starting. "Diamonds." 

Charly. — " Yes, all the diamond brokers come to get his opinion 
before they buy." 

Jac— "Ah Daddy has loads of diamonds in his safe he calls them 
his pretty children his whole soul is wrapped up in them — but I must 
go, I hope better times may come to you Mrs. Martin, but keep out 
of Daddy's clutches I'm a devil when I'm aroused, but he's a devil at 
all times. Come along Charly." Going to door. 

Charly. — "Yes I'm coming, remember Mr. Martin when you get 
able to go to work once and want any one to intercede with the gov- 
ernor come to me, I'll make him take you back if you were the leader 
of the strike." 



12 

Jac. — "Come along Charly if you're going to be my chap-a-whafc 
you call him, I can't wait no longer, for Daddy will be in a white heat 
if he discovers my absence." 

Charlt. — " Daddy sha'n't lay his hands on you if I'm around." Ex- 
ent Charley and Jac. dokr in flat. 
John. — -Looking around. " Gone." 

Ruth. — "Yes and here's the money and the locket lend me the 
light a moment John these wet clothes cling to me; I have some old 
things in that room which are dry ." Takes candle from table and is 
going R. 

John. — Bushes and brings her back. "No ! No ! not there, not there 
anywhere but there. Wildly. You must not you dare not go there. 
Aisde. What am J saying? Aloud. No, no, wife trust me ha! ha! 
ha ! its cold and damp in there the wind howls and drops big drops 
of rain comes through the broken windows. Goes over and stands be- 
fore door. I am not mad do not look at me in that manner but yoa 
must not go in there." 

Ruth. — Looking at him in amazement. "Not for all the world John. 
Aside. His mind's deranged." 

John. — Recovering. "That's well Ruth. What say you to taking the 
children in our arms and flying from this place, from this neighbor- 
hood forever, where they will never find us." 

Ruth. — "Who'll never find us, we care for no one finding us sure- 

John. — "No, no, of course not Ruth, with - the money that young 
man gave you, we can leave this place forever come lets get the child- 
ren and fly where no one knows us; leave everything as it is let the 
landlord take all." 

Ruth. — Pointing to room R. As you say John, but there I have a 
few momentoes of happier days that I would not like to leave." Giong 
to room R. 

John. — Seizes her and thrown her G. shefalU on her knees.- Stand 
back, no, you shall enter that room only over my dead body. Stand 
back I say; stand back.'* 

Picture and Curtain. 



13 
ACT SECOND. 

Scene First. 

The interior of Noah's Ark, an old dilapitated rustic with shelves 
all around on which are displayed clothing done up in paper pack- 
ages, clothing hanging from pegs, theatrical wardrobe, russet boots, 
women's dresses, soldiers' and sailors' clothes, an English Admiral's 
coat and chapeau, nautical instruments, carpenter's saws and planes. 
At R. H. a counter — one half of the stage R., behind counter, vio- 
lins, guitars, banjos and all kinds of musical instruments hanging- 
round — on the end of counter a jewelry case with watches, rings and 
jewelry — in C. of stage, a large iron safe. On the L. a piano — on 
the L. a stairway and landing leading to a room above — door C. in 
flat — large window L. in flat — Daddy Noah an old Jew about sixty 
five years of age dressed in old morning gown and black skull-cap 
and with old pair of carpet slippers on his feet, discovered behind 
counter with a lighted lamp examining a stone with a jewelers glass. 

Daddy. — " They couldn't fool me — a peautif ull imitation of a tia- 
mond though, almost as perfect as real — coughs — Vere can dot girl 
be? I found de Ark locked and had to get in de back vay — coughs 
still looking at stone — French paste though — I sold de necklace to Sir 
George Dashington, fen he married Elizabeth Howard, de Banker, s 
daughter. He gave them to her as a vedding bresent and passed 
them off on her as reaX— Coughs, — How ve fools dese vomans. Oh! its a 
vicked vorld. Now he's run through her fortune and she had to 
bring the stone back to me and tried to pass it off as real — Ha ! Ha ! 
— coughs — It vasn't to be done, but, it's a peautiful imitation and 
might fool most men, but, not Daddy Noah, No ! No ! — coughs. He 
knows a ting or two about tiamonds he does. Lady Dashington, 
vanted to borrow a tousand dollars on it, said it vos vort two. If 
it vas genuine 'twould be vort five tousand. No, no — coughs, — she 
couldn't take me in. If I'd been a young and unsophisticated man, 
de smile she gave me might have caught me, but No ! no ! — coughs,- 
1 am old — old and foxy. I gave her twenty dollars for the stone — if 
I get a chance I'll pass it off for a pure tiamond — laughs, — Oh, all is 
fair in trade. Yes ! honesty is the best policy after all though a 
little roguery sometimes pays. — looks round,~-'VeYe can dot girl Jac 
be ? Door' bell rings and Jac appears G. having opened the door ivith a 
key, — So you lazy girl vere haf you been ? Tell me dot — Do you hear 
vere haf you gone to ? — reaches for stick. 

Jac. — trembling "I — I went out" 



14 

Daddy " I know you vent out and I couldn't got in. De customers 
all turned avay and many poor families ruined pecauseyoii vent out, 
— hits her ivith stick — " Do you see these garments ? There is the uni- 
form of a general, and thats an admiral's suit, and here are sables 
and real seal-skin cloaks all peing eaten up, and you go out and 
let de enemy in on de General and de Admiral, to say noding of 
dem oder tings. The moths are my enemies — I've tried camphor, 
Ive tried pepper, but noding answers but de stick — strikes her — You 
must whack — strikes her — Whack ! — strikes her — all day long. I tol- 
erate no idleness here. No spare hours in vich to get into mischief- 
not much food to j&re the blood. You eat vot I leave. Instead of 
keeping a dog I keep you. Your the scavenger — Deres often gravy 
to sop your crusts of bread in and you've plenty of crust for I never 
eat em — my teeth are not goot — coughs,- -Now, vy dont you answer 
me ? How dare you go out and neglect the customers and let the 
moths eat my goods?" 

Jao. — Whimpering, — "I only went out with Charley Raymond, for 
a few minutes." i 

DADDY.-"Charley Raymond ! I hate him, but, I don't tell him so- 
His father is rich and Charley sometimes comes to me for a leetle 
loan. I charge him twenty per cent, so you see my tear, I can't afford 
to quarrel with him. — looking hard at Jac, — Why did I ever take you 
in? the cost of food is frightful and the cost of your clothing dread- 
ful. You grow out from your dresses as fast as they are fitted to you. 
This is vat comes of having a feeling hart. Now stay here and mind 
the Ark, for I'm going up stairs. Amuse yourself my tear by beat- 
ing the clothes — If you dont whack whack the clothes, when I come 
down, I'll whack, whack, your back. — Goes up steps L. and exits 
through door. 

Jac. — Looking after /iim.-"He's gone to count his money and see 
if it's grown any. I knowed I'd get it fur bein' away whith Charley, 
It's well I'm used to the beating — I've had it so many years that my 
back's quite callous. Anyhows, I got off better than I expected-" 

— takes up bamboo stick and begins beating clothes." 

Enter Joe Jaggers, he is dressed seedy genteel, and looks suspiciously 
round. 

Jaggers. — "Is the old man in?" 

Jac. — looking up. — " What do you want ?" 



15 

Jaggers. — " Whose here to wait on the customers ?" 

Jag. — " I'm here, what do you want ?" 

Jaggers. — "I want to hock a watch." 

Jac. — "Let me see the article, I attend to the business of the Ark." 

Jaggers. — "you do, eh? This is a funny world, ha! ha! ha! Are 
you sailing the Ark instead of Daddy Noah? That can't be. If 
there had never been a Noah, there would never have been an Ark, 
See?" 

Jac. — " Come do business or go out." 

Jaggers. — " Well sooner than offend I'll do business" — takes out 

watch. 

Jag. — examining watch. — ** How much ?" 

Jaggers, — "Twenty five dollars." 

Jac. — "No, five. You stole it." 

Jaggers. — " Your mistaken. It was left me as a legacy by my un- 
cle. See? 

Jag. — "And so you've brunged it back to your uncle, eh ?'* 

Jaggers. — laughing. — Thats pretty good, I'm busted if you ain't a 
sharp un." 

Jag.— "What's your biz?" 

Jaggers. — " I'm a mechanic. See ?" 

Jag. — " What's you given me ?" 

Jaggers. — " Say I'm a tradesman on a strike." 

Jag. — " Yes, from yer looks, you're a watchmaker in a crowd. D'ye 
catch on?" 

Jaggers. — laughing, — You'r a fly gal, you are." 

Jag. — "I'll advance five dollars on the watcli and take chances." 

Jaggers. — " Dats de way I got it, by taken chances. Say ten dol- 
lars." 

Jag. — " No, five dollars take it or leave it," 



16 

Jaggers. — " Then I'll take it and leave de watch. Gimme de sand." 

Jac. — writing out receipt and giving it to Jaggers, — "There's your 
fiver and there's your ticket." 

Jaggers. — grumbling. — "I could have got more from Daddy Noah. 
He^s an old friend of mine. We've done business before togeder. 
See." 

Jac. — " Then give me back the fiver and ticket and take de watch 
and try him.'^ 

Jaggers.^" No, no. I'll hold what I've got. He might be more 
inquisitive than you are. Tra, la, la. my dear take care of yourself 
and when you want to know your former history come ter me for 
I'm de man as can tell it to you. See ? Ha I ha 1 ha ! it's a funnj^ 
world and makes me laugh. Goes up to safe and examines it. 

Jac. — "Here! here! Come away from that safe" 

Jaggers — What's de matter wid yer? I was only looken to see 
whose make it is. I'm a mechanic, see ? and I'm interested in me- 
chanical confcrivences. See? You kin trust me." 

Jac. — I wouldn't trust you as far as I could see you. You'r a ^ 
dead beat and I'll bet anything you stole dat watch." 

Jaggers. — " You will harbor wicked thoughts again me. So 
Daddy Noah, keeps his dust, tickers and sparklers in this safe does 
he ?" — goes up again to safe. 

Jac — picking up stick and beating Joe. "Come, get out of here you 
Whyo, you." Buns Joe round stage and through door in fiat. Daddy 
Noah, appears at door L. on landing. 

Daddy. — " Vots ail dis row?" — coming down stairs. 

Jac — " I was only beating a moth out." 

Daddy.—" A moth ?" 

Jac — " Yes a moth who was trying to eat up the safe. 

Daddy — " No foohng. Exj^lain vot you mean." 

Jac — " Well he came in to hock this watch." 

Daddy. — "Vot did you give him on it?" 



17 

Jac. — " He wanted twenty five dollars, but I only gave him five." 

Daddy. — " Let me see it." Rakes out watch and examines it. A goot 
bargain my, tear it's vort eighty at least — if he don't redeem it. 

Jac. — " Oh he'll never redeem it — he stole it." 

Daddy. — " Vot do you mean by receiving stolen broperty. — Ish 
dot de vay you receive my moral teachiDgs?'^ 

Jac. — " Nobody wants to advance money on moral teachings.^' 

Daddy. — " Now de boliece vill poke dere noses into the Ark, find 
the stolen vatch und carry it off in spite of de hard cash paid for it 
or dey vill be extortionate in their demands for palm greasing to 
overlook de purchase. Vot ish de vorld coming to, ven charitable 
beoples help de poor to live and hold dem back from flying to their 
broper refuge, de golden balls. Oh, — coughs. — Vot is de vorld com- 
ing to, ven Jews are growing so numerous and so unscrupulous as to 
interfere with one annoders pisness. Oh, vat is de vorld coming to 
ven de shentiles, are becoming a match for de Jews, in blu eking the 
geese and shearing de silly sheep dat ask to be plucked and shorn. 

Jac. — " Daddy, you had better hire a hall and give a lecture on 
morality/' 

Daddy. — '^ I could do it my tear, I could do it. Oh, the pawnbroker 
knows more family secrets, dan de family doctor, or de confidential 
lawyer. I could give de boliece many a point if I liked and even de 
shudge, could learn somedings from old Daddy Noah." 

Jac. — " But that has nothing to do with the watch." 

Daddy. — " Oh yes it has my tear. Now if de bolice find de vatch 
here dey can't take it for dey have no vitnesses, and you can't prove 
any dings without some vitnesses," 

Jac— "Why?" 

Daddy. — "Vitnesses is necessary in every case. I had a frent call- 
ed Mr. Rosenthal in de cigar pizness and dey had him arrested for 
selling cigars without the government stamp on the box." 

Jac. — " Have they got to stamp a box. I thought they only stamp- 
ed letters." 

Daddy. — "Yes my tear, everything must be stamped. De govern- 
ment is poor you know and the politicians must be fed. Veil, as I 



18 

was saying, my frent had all his vitnesses ready in de court but de 
case vos put off. That same morning, another frent of mine Mr. 
Oppenheimer, was to be tried for arson, but he had forgotten about 
it and neglected to summon his vitnesses. Just as Mr. Kosenthal was 
leaving court Mr. Oppenheimer rushed up to him and said: 'Does 
your case come on to-day?' 'No' said Mr. Kosenthal, 'it's postponed.' 
'Then' said Mr. Oppenheimer 'for God's sake lend me your vitnesses 
or they'll send me to Sing Sing', so you see Jac. vitnesses are not re- 
quired to know anything about the case. Opens case of watch and looks 
at U — reads inscription — 'To Henry Belmont'. Excitedly Kill him 
— give him to me; where is he? Where are you hiding him from 
me?" 

Jac.—" Who ?" 

Daddy. — " The man who owns this watch." 

Jac. — "How do I know where he went." 

Daddy.— "Oh Eachel! Rachel! , 

Jac. — Looking at him. " Who was Rachel?" 

Daddy. — "There, shut the door, shut the door." 

Jac. — (Goes to door in flat closes it, comes down and jumps on coun- 
ter.) "There the door is shut. Now tell me who was Rachel ?" 

Daddy. — "I'll tell you child, but I must first light a pipe. (Gets a 
clay pipe from behind counter and strikes match and lights it.) I 
don't offer you one because its not decent for a vomans to smoke, the 
habit might grow and interfere with your matrimonial prospects. 
Some vomans take to cigarettes on the ground dat dey suffer from 
asthma or bronchitis, but you are sound in the lungs and throat Jac, 
— sound as a bell; I never knew anything the matter with you, except 
an inordinate appetite." 

Jac.—" Who was Rachel ?" 

Daddy. — "Let me have that chair." (Points to old arm-chair — Jac 
„ets down from counter and sets chair C. gets flour barrel and puts 
(jown beside chair and springs on top of it. Daddy sits in chair.) 

Jac — " Now I hope you're comfortable. Who was Rachel ?'^ 

Daddy. — " Really Jac, your vays are inhuman and give me a coid 
shiver. You squat dere on that barrel like a goblin, in a fairy tale. 



19 

You're not a bit like an ordinary girl; yet there is a buoyancy, a fresh- 
ness in you. Now I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll teach you how to 
dance." 

Jac— "What?" 

Daddy. — " I haf a bad debt with a dancing master and de only vay 
I can get my money is to take it out in lessons; now I'm to old for 
dot kind of ting. You vant refinement and I vill do de magnanimous 
and have you instructed. You shall learn polka, jig and valtz like 
a blue blood." 

Jac. — " But I want to know who Rachel was ?" 

Daddy. — After a pause, "Rachel! Rachel! Well I^m sorry I 
said a vord apout Rachel, her name slipped off my mout ven my mout 
was ajar, dot vatch brought it up. Rachel, Rachel my tear vos my 
daughter.'^ 

Jac. — " And where is she now V^ 

Daddy. — Springing from, chair. " She^s dead — dead — ^poor Ra- 
chel! poor Rachel! After a pause. She was only seventeen, beau- 
tiful, superbly beautiful. She did not take to the Ark. Her fancy 
lay in pleasure — pleasure and dancing. She vas always galvanting 
and we could not agree. Finally she runned away with a Christian 
a Gentile; she left her old father. Weeps. How could she have 
the heart to do it — to leave the Ark with the furniture, the carpets, 
the musical instruments, the second hand plate, to say noding of the 
Actor's dresses and de gold and tiamonds." 

Jac. — " And so she is dead V 

Daddy. — " Yes dead — dead ! — killed by him, a Christian — betrayed 
by him — he broke her heart. I have never heard from her since she 
left but now she's dead. Looking at watch. And there's his cursed 
name. Laughing. Ha, ha, ha, but I've been even with him child 
for child Takes up stick and beats Jac. round stage. Let me have 
him here in the hollow of my hand and I will squeeze the life out of 
him; let me grasp him by the throat and I vill tear him down and all 
his family — I vill not spare him I vill not spare you Beats Jac. 
I vill caper over him and you shall dance with me up and down. 
Takes Jac's hand and dances. In and out over his broken bones 
and crushed flesh. Hits Jac. with stick. And beat out his brains 
and his child's brain's. Hits Jac. on head. Crush his brains with 



20 ' 

my feet and stamp his marrow into the mire Hits her. Come dance, 
dance." 

Jac. — Crying, "Don't, don't, I can't dance in these old clothes." 

Daddy. — (Goes over to rose colored silk dress which is hanging up.) 
"Here go and put this on and then you shall dance. Goes up to safe 
and unlocks it. Here put on this necklace of Eoman pearls. You 
look like Kachel in the face, let me see if you look like her when you 
are dressed — get along with you, go dress, dress for the dance. There! 
light another candle. Damn the expense I Go quick put on the dress 
but don't remove the ticket." 

Jac. — Taking dress and drying her eyes. "Oh won't I cut a shine 
when I get these togs on. Exit up stairway and into room. 

Daddy. — "Yes, yes I'll be even with him at last — daughter for 
daughter, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth (The door bell rings 
Enter Mr. Mayden a jeweler, and John Martin. John has cloak round 
him which he has taken from man. Daddy seeing Mayden.) Oh my, 
the great Mr. Mayden, the great Jeweler in my unworthy den but de 
Ark is not a bed of roses and a seat of pizness is not the lap of lux- 
ury. Bowing. Vot can I do for the great Mr. Mayden & Co." 

Mayden. — " Daddy you'll excuse me calling on you this time of 
night but the case is urgent. You are considered the best judge of 
diamonds and precious stones in New York. Now this gentleman 
Mr. Martin, has a very valuable diamond which he wants to dispose 
of; now, we are willing to advance a certain sum of money on the 
iewel providing it is all right." 

Daddy. — "Yes, I know somedings of tiamonds, I ought to. Coughs. 
I have dealt in them all my life. Oh Mr. Mayden, I am an old man. 
Coughs. Looking hard at John Aside. Pho ! No it ca.n't be — it's 
very like him though." 

Mayden. — Handing Daddy velvet case. "What do you think of 
that?" 

Daddy. — (Takes case and opens it and goes to light on counter — 
looks at diamond and starts.) Oh the beauty, the sparkler, the pre- 
cious treasure — beautiful — beautiful. Aside. The same size, the 
same number of faucets. How like the false one I sold Sir George 
Dashington, Aloud. Whose is it?" 

Mayden. — "It belongs to this gentleman, Mr. Martin." 



21 

Daddy. — Aside. "Ha, ha, ha; Oh I know him, I thought I could 
not be mistaken — a striking mechanic with a diamond worth five 
thousand dollars. He! he! he, his wife starving, coming to me and 
pledging a locket with her dead mother's hair in. Aloud. You're 
mad, he's mad, we're all mad." Hands diamond back. 

John. — Aside to May den. "He's crazy." 

Mayden. — "No, only a little eccentric." 

Daddy. — " Let me look at it again, it's false. Mayden hands him 
diamond; he looks at it. No, no, I, I, Eugh ! No, no it's real it's a 
diamond. Wake me up, pinch me, scratch me, bite me, I'm asleep, 
I'm asleep — thieves, thieves." 

John. — Starting and looking round. "Where! where!" 

Daddy. — Aside. " He must have stolen it." 

Mayden. — "Well Daddy am I safe in advancing a thousand dollars 
on it." 

Daddy. — Pretending to examine it. "A thousand dollars. Why 
it's worth five. Aside. A bright idea. Ha ! Ha ! ha. No ! No ! 
don't laugh Daddy not yet, not yet. John Martin stole that diamond 
It's somebody's, it's anybody's, it's mine, mine." 

Mayden. — "Then on your judgement Daddy I'll let him have the 
money." 

Daddy. — Aside, taking false stone from his pocket. If I could 
only change them — Coughs— Eugh \ eugh! Aloud. Oh Mr. May- 
den, dear Mr. Mayden, old as I am I think the sight of this diamond 
has done me goot. Aside, changing diamond. It's a go, it's a go, 
Oh the idiot, oh the fool. Aloud. Oh Mr. Mayden, my dear Mr. 
Mayden my eyes are old. I must take it to the light. Goes over to 
lamp. Oh beautiful! magnificent! glorious!" Puts diamond and 
case in his pocket, 

Mayden. — Seeing action. " Come Daddy don't you pocket the dia- 
mond." 

Daddy. — Obsequisely. My dear Mr. Mayden, I'm a poor old man 
a very poor old man and I only vanted to fee! dat for once in my life 
I had five tousand tollars in my bocket. (Takes case out of pocket 
and opens it forces it into Mayden's hands shutting the case.) Dare's 



22 

de beauty shut it up, shut it up; my old eyes are dazzled, and my 
sight is shaken by its rays." 

(Mayden takes diamond out of case and looks at Daddy who stag- 
gers against counter.) 

Mayden. — Looking at Daddy. " What^s the matter Daddy ?" 

Daddy.— "Nodings, nodings— only old; old and veak — dat's all." 

Mayden. — "Well we must leave you. I thank you for your judg- 
ment. I'll advance this gentleman a thousand dollars on it — Good 
evening.^' 

(Exit Mayden and John Martin door in flat — Daddy follows them 
up to door watches them out, then staggers down stage and falls in 
chair.) 

Daddy. — "Mine, mine. Ha! ha! ha! Coughs, Takes diamond out 
of pocket and looks at it They got the paste. I've de real stone. 
IVe done a Christian one of that accursed race that stole my daugh- 
ter, ruined and deserted her and then married another woman, but 
I have that other woman's child. The diamond is mine, worth five 
tousand tollars; ha! ha! ha!" 

(Enter Rosa, Blanche and Casino girls D. in flat. Daddy hastily 
conceals diamond in pocket.) 

Blanche. — Speaking as she enters. "Well Rosa dear how fortun- 
ate we met you. Come in. We're looking for stage jewelry for the 
New Opera. Have you left the Casino ?" 

Rosa. — "Yes I've given up my engagement, for Tm engaged to be 
married." 

Blanche. — "So you've a better engagement, and you've caught a 
dude eh ? How cunning you are never to have said a word about it. 
Hasn't she girls ?'' 

Girls. — "Yes indeed. Ah Cuteness!" 

Rosa. — " Oh, it was only really settled last night and my intended 
is scarcely a dude, he's a — well a — " 

Blanche. — " Very rich of course. No girl would think of leaving 
the Casino, and settling down to humdrum life unless the man was 
very rich, would they girls ?" 

Girls. — "No indeed." 



23 

Daddy. — Looking up from counter. " Quite right my tears. She 
vould be a fool to do that." 

Blanche. — " That would be awful wouldn't it girls.*' 

Girls. — "Yes indeed." 

Daddy. — " Dat would be committing theatrical suicide." 

Rosa. — " I believe the gentleman is well to do." 

Blanche. — " Well to do. Come now you know he's rich." 

Rosa. — " I'm sure he's a gentleman of means. He dresses like one 
and spends his money freely, but of course I don't know how much 
he's worth .'^ 

Blanche. — " If it was me I'd know how much he was worth before 
I took such a leap in the dark; wouldn't I girls ?^' 

Girls. — " So would I. Yes indeed." 

Daddy. — "Sensible girls and so vould I if I vos goin' to marry 
him.*^ 

Blanche. — " Rosa dear is your father aware of it ?" 

Rosa. — " Oh yes, he knows all about it." 

Blanche. — " And approves of it?" 

Rosa.—" Yes dear." 

Blanche. — " Then of course he's wealthy or your papa would never 
have given his consent, would he girls ?" 

Girls. — "No, indeed.^' 

Blanche. — " I suppose we will see you in one of the boxes, covered 
with diamonds, some night dear?" 

Rosa. — " Perhaps darling.'^ 

Blanche. — " How shy you are lovey. You only speak in monosyl- 
ables. Is he an American or an English gentleman ?" 

Rosa.—" Oh he's English." 

Blanche. — " Of course he's handsome,'* 

Rosa.— "Tolerably so," 



24 

Blanche. — " Then he must be a millionaire for a girl of your sense 
would never throw herself away on a tolerably goodlooking English- 
man unless he had a title or was a walking gold mine, would she 
girls?" 

, Girls. — " No indeed." 

Daddy. — " You might just as veil throw yourself off de dock." 

BosA. — " Are you on your way to the Casino now '?" 

Blanche. — "Yes sweetness but we have plenty of time; we're not 
on till the Second Act, are we girls ?'' 

GiELs. — " No indeed.^' 

Blanche. — To Daddy. "Have you any fine Rhinestone jewelry 
Mr. Noah, something that will look like diamonds at night ?" 

Daddy. — Stai^ting. "Diamonds? Looks round, recovers himself. 
Oh yes my tear. I have some splendid imitation tiamonds, fine 
French paste. Dey vould take in most anybody but not me my 
tear. Goes to safe unlocks it, takes out tray with jewelry on it. Look 
at these my tear," 

Blanche. — "Oh there beauties." Girls cluster round and look at 
jewelry. 

Girls. — " Yes indeed." 

Daddy. — " And my tears I have some of the finest stage dresses 
that ever were made. They come from Paris and were got up for 
the Grand Opera and all Worth made my tears, all Worth made." 

Girls. — " Let us see them." 

Blanche. — " We don't have to furnish our own costumes at the 
Casino but if they're very handsome we might get permission to wear 
them, mightn't we girls ?" 

Girls. — "Yes indeed." 

Daddy. "Veil go in that little room and you'll find them all on the 
table there." 

Blanche. — " Come on girls, won't it be fun." 

Girls. — " Yes indeed." Exit Bosa, Blanche and girls B. 2. E. 



25 

(Enter Jac. from stairway in rose colored silk.) 

Jag.--" Now Daddy give me the diamonds." 

Daddy. — Trembling. "1 haven't got it. I haven't got it. See^ 
Jac. Oh it's you ! How dare you give me such a fright. An un- 
married vomans doesn't vear tiamonds. You have the necklace of 
pearls. I'd give you a bracelet but you're hands are dirty. Jac. puts 
her hands behind her. No, no, don't be ashamed of them a pair of 
dirty hands is a badge of honor." 

Jac— " They're not dirty but grimy from work. I've washed and 
washed them but the black grains will not come out." 

Daddy. — "You have worked, worked, worked; now you shall dance 
dance, dance." 

(Jac. tries to dance and catches her foot in the train — Bus. Enter 
Charlie C. D. looks at Jac. but does not recognize her.) 

Charley. — " I beg your pardon Daddy for coming in so uncere- 
moniously. I was not aware you had a lady here." 

Daddy. — Laughing. *' Veil I'll bet a quarter you don't recognize 
Jac." 

Charley. — Looks at her and bursts into laughter. "Excuse me but 
I can't help it. Where are you going Jac? To a ball? For I 
must go there too and secure you for half a dozen dances." 

Jac, — " I'm going nowhere. I can't dance. I'm only dressed like 
the figures in the dry goods stores to show off the goods." 

Daddy. — " Jac's going to learn to dance; I intend to indulge her 
in this expensive luxury if she behaves herself. I'm a freehanded 
-iberal hearted old man when it don't cost me anything." 

Charley. — " Going to learn to dance ? What next ? French and 
piano lessons I suppose." 

Daddy. — " She can play the piano. She picked it up herself on 
that instrument there. Now don't she look veil. Aside. She looks 
like Rachel did. My Rachel that the Christian betrayed. Aloud. 
Who'd think to see her dressed that vay that I picked her out of the 
gutter/' 

Charley, — "Never mind where she comes from. She looks as if 
she was born to wear silks and diamonds. If she were to appear at 



26 

a ball in that dress the gentlemen would swarm round her in admir- 
ation while the ladies would die of envy. Jac. struts up and down. 

Daddy. — They would, they would. Don't she look every inch a lady. 
Ah my tear its de dress, the dress that makes the lady." 

Charley. — "No Daddy you're wrong; it's not the dress that makes 
the lady, it's the lady that makes the dress. When are you going to 
learn to dance?" 

Jac.—" I don't know." 

Chaeley.— "Where?" 

Jac.—" Here." 

Charley. — " Who is going to dance with you ?" 

Jac. — " No one.^^ 

Charley. — "Then youll never learn, I'll be your j^artner, Daddy 
get together a lot of girls, I'll bring a friend or two, and we'll have 
the joUiest dancing lesson imaginable." 

Daddy. — " Dere's a lot of Casino girls in there, ^om^s R, but I'm 
not going to turn the Ark into a Casino. I promised Jac should 
learn to dance if I had to teach her myself, although my dancing 
days are over, but there was a time — tries to dance and stumbles -^'No 
I can't do it. I can^t get my money out of a dancing master, so he 
shall teach Jac to dance, that^s better than nothing." 

Charley. — "May I come and help him, I am an accomplished 
dancer.^' 

Daddy. — " That is as you choose, but don't bring any of your fast 
friends here, if you vill come in a quiet vay, why come, only don^t 
expect to find Jac dressed like she is to-night." 

Charley. — " Of course she will be in proper attire. No one can 
dance in working clothes." 

Daddy. — " She has no others." 
Charley. — "What, no Sunday clothes?" 
Daddy. — " Sunday is nothing to her." 
Charley. — " No go-to-meeting clothes ? " 



27 

Jag. — " I never go to meeting/' 

Charley. — " Jac what is Sunday intended for ? What are churches 
and chapels built for but to display new clothes. What a heathen 
you are not to allow the girl a day to shake off her rags and put on 
fine feathers. Daddy we have a little account together so just put 
down that silk dress to it, and let me present that and the necklace 
of pearls to Jac. Will you accept the present my lady Jacquinette ?' 

Jac. — Looking at Charley. " I don't know/' 

Daddy. — Nudging Jac. "Of course she will/' 

Jac. — " I said I don't know. I'll tell you some other time." 

Charley. — "Daddy you know, I can play a fiddle. You tried to 
sell me a violin for twice its value. Get it down and I'll play and 
give Jac her first lesson in waltzing. I'll bet you a dollar in a quar- 
ter of an hour she'll step out in a waltz as well as the best of them." — 
Daddy gives him violin — he plays a waltz. Now one, two, three, step 
out." 

(He shows her the step — she is awkward at first but after a few 
steps they waltz round stage, Charley playing. Daddy sitting on 
counter applauding.) 

Daddy. — " Mr. Raymond vill you stop and haf a bite. Aside. I'll 
make him pay for the supper. Aloud. The festive board will soon be 
spread. Dere will be a tin can of tomatoes. Takes tomato can from 
under counter, and bread plenty of bread — takes out loaf of bread, 
and ve'll vash it down mit vater; sparkling vater which strengthens 
the nerves and aids digestion" — takes out pitcher of water — Charley 
looks at him ruefully. 

Charley. — " Look here Daddy, you whisper the word supper, but I 
don't like the suggestion of cold damaged tomatoes and rye bread 
with cold water. What do you say to Champagne and oysters ? " 

Daddy. — " Very well, so be it. I'll run down and order all you 
say. You see I can't send Jac in her pest attire. I'll be back in 
three seconds." Buns up to C. door then pauses and comes back. " Of 
course as you ordered the supper youll pay for it I'm not responsi- 
ble/' 

Charley. — " Certainly ; you pay whatever it amounts to and I 
will refund the money." 



28 

Daddt. — *' Would you mind advancing five dollars, I've only a 
nickle in my purse." 

Chabley. — Throwing money. "There you are" 

Daddy. — Catching it. Aside. "Ill only spend half of it for the food 
and keep the rest." Exit door in flat. 

Jac. — Sitting on counter and swinging her legs. "I'd like to go to 
a ball, I've never seen real ladies and gentlemen, never except in 
business. Are you a real proper gentleman?'' 

Charley. — Laughing. " That's a cruel question Jac, I cannot an- 
swer it. You must enquire of others." 

Jac. — Here I see nothing but rags, wretehedness and care. I 
know nothing of the happy and careless world. I am surrounded 
by poverty and the air is charged with the dust of old clothes that 
reek with misery and crime ; the light that comes through these 
windows is never clear. The air is always tainted. Why should I 
not sometimes spring into the region of sunlight. Daddy tells me 
that I'm only a maggot, but a maggot often becomes a moth with 
wings of silver. Am I to be always grub, never to rise. If I have 
the chance to flutter my wings may I not accept it?'^ 

Charley. — "You are a poor girl, and you had better take care not 
to leave your proper elements. Have you ever heard of the flying 
fish ? They have fins so long they can rise by them a little way out 
of the waves. The little creatures think they are birds, so they 
spring above the water and are immediately snapped up by the 
gulls." 

Jac. — "I'm not afraid of that, I'm more likely to snap the gulls 
than the gulls to snap me." 

Charley. — " You're a comical girl Jac. It's a pleasure to hear you 
talk. Are you happy in this den? " 

Jac. — "Happy ? How can I be, look around you. I'll show you 
where I sleep — on a sack full of shavings under the counter. My 
food consists of bread crusts and cheese parings which Daddy can 
not eat. My play is beating the moths out of the old clothes. I 
take my recreation in the back yard, where the only green thing is 
the shine on the pavement. Daddy has no Sunday and I have no 
Sabbath — No, no, I never had a holiday." 



2d 



Charley. — "Why don^t you leave, then?" 



Jac. — "Because I've no place to go to except the poor house, for 
Daddy sajs he found me in the gutter. Jumps from, the counter. If 
a change does not come soon I'll kill myself." 

Charley. — " Nonsense Jac. Your'e a little goose. If I were you 
I'd run away." 

Jac. — "And die in the street. No." 

Charley, — "I've ran away from my father and I don't intend to 
die in the street." 

Jac. — "You're different. You're a man, that is you ought to be. 
What did you run away for Charley ? " 

Charley. — "Because I was afraid to face my father. If I tell 
him the truth he'll kick me out of the house." 

Jac.— "What for?'' 

Charley. — " I'll tell you Jac. He gave me $500 to pay my tailor's 
bill, unfortunately I met some old college chums, who proposed a 
game of poker merely for pastime ; but somehow or other when I 
rose from the table I had not a cent. The man is poor and can not 
afford to lose the money, and I dare'nt ask my father for more. 
Now, what am I to do ? " 

Jac. — "Don't you know its wrong to gamble?" 

Charley. — "What's the use of a lecture now, like locking the stable 
when the horse is stolen. How am I to get out of it? I can not 
acknowledge I gambled the money away. You must invent some 
other story to take its place." 

Jac. — " I can not do that. I never tell lies only in business, and 
Daddy says that's no crime. You must get the money from your 
father under some other pretence." 

Charley.— " You talk like a book Jac. You have a great head. 
I only wish you were my sister to be always at my elbow." 

Jac. — " Yesterday when you insisted on having a tin type taken 
of us standing hand in hand, you lamented I was not your wife. 
Which do you mean ?" 

Charley. — Abashed " Of course I was joking." 



30 

Jac. — Laughing " Now or yesterday ? I see I have frightened 
you by pretending to take your words in earnest. Don't be 
alarmed, I'm not anxious to hold you to your word in either case. 

Chaeley. — "Jac, you are the only person who has ever spoken 
plainly to me, and I pledge you my word never to gamble again.'' 

Jac. — Puts hand on his shoulder. "That's right Charley. If you 
want to give me the greatest pleasure, you will keep your word, for 
in spite of your weakness, I do like you, and to prove it I'll help 
you. You shall have the $500." 

Charley. — " How will you get it? From Daddy Noah ? " 

Jac. — " I would'nt for the world apply to him." 

Charley. — " Where is it to come from. Not from the wages you 
have saved?'' 

Jac. — "I receive no wages ; but don't ask any more questions, 
but contrive that I shall meet your father in some public place, and 
trust the rest to me." 

Charley. — " I will do so immediately." 

(Enter girls dressed in fancy costumes R. 2. E.) 

Rosa. — Seeing Charley, " Oh girls here's Charley Raymond." 

Girls. — "Yes indeed." 

Blanche. — " So it is. Charley what are you doing here ?" 

Charley. — "I might ask you the same question. Why are you 
here in costume ? This is not the Casino." 

Rosa. — "No but we're going to play Casino and these dresses are 
our trumps." 

Charley. — "And in these dresses you'll take all the tricks. Come 
Jac. now for a real dancing lesson. These young ladies will help you 
I'm sure." 

Girls. — " Of course we will. Yes indeed." 

(Specialties by Jac. and girls. After specialty Charley puts arm 
round Jac's waist.) 

Charley. — "Jac. you're a great creature and I'd trust you with my 
ife." 



31 

Girls. — "A regular mash»" 

(Enter Daddy with covered tray and champagne bottle.) 

Daddy. — "What billing and cooing in my absence; pledging affec- 
tion in the Ark? Ah you minx, take that — '^ Raises bottle to strike Jac. 

Charley. — Seizes and throws him G. " You coward; lay a finger on 
her and I'll brain you." 

Jac. — Running over and catching his arm. " Charley don't. Re- 
member he's an old man. Girls grouped. Picture and Close in. 

Scene Second. 

(In 1 Bowling Green. Time about Three P. M., emigrants entering 
L. and walking off R. ; some have tins, some beds on their backs; one 
man crosses with very big whiskers, ala Dundreary — has a decided 
English cut — then some German Emigrants followed by Irish etc., 
all gesticulating and looking at the various hackmen who call out to 
them. Factory people, peddlers etc., etc.) 

Haokman. — "Fifth Avenue Hotel ! Astor House ! Grand Central 
Depot !" 

(Enter a German Couple, the man with a lot of tins, woman with 
feather bed on her back.) 

Hackman. — ''Lunatic Asylum; Duchy?'' 

German. — "Ya, ya.'^ They go off R. Omnes laugh. 

(Enter shabby English couple, man with side whiskers.) 

Hackman. — " Brunswick Hotel, Sir ?" 

Englishman. — "His it an haristocratic 'ouse? We want to go to a 
HingHsh 'otel." 

Hackman. — Taking his valise. " Yes come on." Exit R. 

(Enter Jaggers E. looks at hackman and at Englishman.) 

Jaggers. — "Dere's not much to be made off dat bloke, he's too seedy. 
If I can only run a few greenhorns into Liverpool Jack's I may make 
a fiver for I'm dead broke. I must make a call on my friend John 
Martin, for the secret I hold is worth money. Aye plenty of money 
and hell have to come down or he'll go up. It's a funny world. I 
wonder how the old woman, my mudder is getting along; she must 



32 

have a few shekel's saved up now. Luckily she lives in the same 
tenement with Martin so I can kill two birds with one stone." 

(Enter Mickey McNamara and Nor ah his wife. Mickey has a 
a wheelbarrow full of cooking utensils, a stove, stove pipe — she car- 
ries a bag and pots and pans.) 

NoRAH. — " Take care Mickey of our f oine furniture. How lucky it 
is that the ship didn't go down to the bottom of the say. Then we'd 
have to be obleeged to commence the world all over again. Now if 
we only had a piano too." 

Mickey. — "Ye mane a pianer forty-two." 

NoRAH. — "I would'nt care if it was fifty-two, if we only had it. 
Have ye the number of the tenement house that yer cousin tould ye 
to go to?" 

Jaqgers. — Approaching. " Hack Sir? " 

NoRAH. — " Who the divil are ye callin' a hack ? Does my man 
pok like wan ? ^' 

Mickey. — " Hould on ! Hould on ! Don't let yer temper get the 
better of yer natur' daiiin'. Pompously to Jaggers. Was it me or 
meself ye was addressing your observation? '^ 

Jaggers. — "No, it was to you." 

Mickey. — "A beneficial thing for the state of yer health it was to 
me. Well sir, continue yer discourse; but be moighty careful of any 
insinuations agin the characther of a Milesian gintleman." 

Jaggers. — " Oh give us a rest." 

NoRAH.—" Don't do it Mickey." 

Mickey. — " And phat may a rist be?'^ 

Jaggers. — " Oh let up a little; stop yer chinning." 

Mickey. — " Is it the American language yer spakin' or phat the 
divil is it at all at all ?" 

Jaggers. — " Well chaw me fur a chunk of terbabker if you ain' 
green." 

Mickey. — "Be me sowl yer the dirtiest pace of tobacco I iver saw. 
So I'm grane ami? And phat is it your business if I am. Its 
the color av me counthry ye say reflected in me face ?" 



33 

Jaggers, — Pointing to hat. — " Shoot it — stab the six/' 

NoRAH. — Turning in alarm. — " Murther alive ! Phat is it? " 

Mickey. — "What a bloodthirsty thaf e of the wurruld ye are. Shoot 
six at a time ? I've heerd of this but niver dremt it was half so bad 
What time does the ship go back?" 

Jaggers. — "Ah! What's de matter wid ye? Yer awful green." 

Mickey. — "Be me sowl I'll make ye black and blue if ye say that 
agin. But is it such a bad place as I hear it is ?" 

Jaggers. — " Bad ! No, there ain't been 'a murder committed 
since last night." — winks at Nor ah. 

NoRAH. — "There will be wan moigbty soon if you don't stop wink- 
ing yer avil looking eyes at me." 

Mickey. — " So it's winking ye are eh ? Pon me honor, I'll put yer 
eyes in such a position they'll not wink agin for ten years to come." 

Jaggers. — " Who's a winking ? It's a hesitation — a kind of im- 
pediment in my eye." 

Mickey. — "I was tould that the moment I arrived here I could pick 
up gould in the strates." 

Jaggers. — " So yer can." 

Mickey and Norah. — Eagerly. " Eh ?" 

Jaggers. — "If you can find it. As for diamonds, they're so 
plentiful sometimes, that they're swept up at night time and 
shipped every morning over to Hoboken to feed the pigs. " 

Mickey. — "Murther! I'm sorry I didn't bring a few pigs wid 
me/' 

Jaggers. — " You can buy pig here for a cent a pound." 

Norah, — " We'll buy a hundred of 'em to-day." 

Jaggers. — " Say, ain't you going to do anything?" 

Mickey. — " I hope bo. Do I look like a lazy man ?" 

Jaggers. — " I'm mean I'm dry talking to you all the day." 

Mickey. — " Arrah why the divil didn't ye say so ?" Here. — Gives 
him bottle. 



34 

Jaggeks. — After drinking, — " Is that pure whiskey ?^' Gives bottle 
hack. 

Mickey. — " Divil a dhrop. It's diluted wid gin. Tell me is there a 
place where we caa luxuriate in a male of praties and some fine 
Irish bacon?" 

Jaggers. — " I can take you to a hash house." 

NoRAH. — " Oh Mickey why the divil don't ye demolish him wid 
his ash houses and his rests and shooting. JPhat does he take us 
for?" 

Jaggers. — " Oh you don't catch on ! It's a place where you can 
get a plate of hash for ten cents. See ? I can't go in wid you 'cos 
i owe 'em for the meat what's on my bones. 

Mickey. — " Be me sowl ye can't owe him much thin." 

Jaggers.^" Besides I'm tired of hashes." 

Mickey. — " Then phy don't ye ate cinders?" 

Jaggers. — " Say Irish I can't be here all day. D'ye want a hack ?'* 

NoRAH. — " Off to blazes wid you and your hack. We'll hack you 
paces if ye don't lave us alone." 

Mickey. — " Calm yourself Norah, don't let yer angry feelings rise. 
Yor're in a furrin counthry and if it's inhabitants don't understand 
manners they'll evintually larn thimfromus." — A colored man crosses 
stage and exits — '* Murther ! Pbat's that ?" 

Jaggers. — "That's an Irishman." 

Mickey. — "An Irishman ? And how long is he in the counthry?'' 

Jaggers. — " Oh about six months." 

NoRAH. — " May Heaven protect us." 

Mickey. — " Murther ! And does the climate have that effect in 
six months — Phat time does the ship go back ?" 

Norah. — " We can't go back now till weVe seen your cousin. 
Have ye the number of the tenement he tould you ?" 

Mickey. — "I have that — takes paper from his pocket, and reads — 
corner Harlem and Grand, — to Jaggers — that's where I want to go. 
Where is it?" 



35 

Jaggers. — " What do ye take me for — a mile-stone ? Well seeing 
it's you I'll tell you. You take a car-—'' 

NoRAH. — In alarm. " Don't do it Mickey — If ye take it ye'll be 
arrested for highway robbery." 

Jaqgeks. — " Oh no. You get in a car by the Jersey City Ferry. 
It will take you over to Brooklyn, where you take the steam cars for 
Kamshatka." 

Mickey. — " That's in Massachusetts I believe." 

Jaggeks. — " Yes ; from there you walk over to Kernokamshrupers- 
ville in Kotehawkowehowkus county and — " 

Mickey. — " Hould on for the love of Hivin ! Repate that a few 
million times." 

Jaggers. — " I cant I've busted a button. See ? " 

NoRAH, — " If it takes half as long to get there as it does you to 
tell us we'll niver rache our destination." 

Jaggers. — "Then you can go to — Seeing a policeman he exits say- 
ing — the devil." 

Mickey. — Shaking his fist after him. Bad luck to ye, ye hath en — if 
iver I do go there, I'll give your compliments to your father." 

NoRAH. — "Are ye sure Mickey ye have the right address." 

Mickey. — " Of coorse I have — is'nt it here in black and white — 
Reading. Corner of Harlem and Grand streets, two doors from 
Christie — Christie ! Sure that must be the man who owns the flat. 
I wonder what a flat is." 

NoRAH. — *' Well ye'd need to be sharp to know what a flat is. A 
flat house must be a low house where if ye don't want to use the 
dure ye can get in be the chimney." 

Mickey. — " Thin how will we kape the pig out of the house, for if 
he thried the chimney and got stuck in it he'd soon be cured bacon 
instead of fresh pork? " 

NoRAH. — "Hush, here's a military gentleman, he's either a general 
or a corporal." 

Policeman. — " You must'nt stop here all the morning." 



36 

Mickey. — "No Captain ; but a mane thafe of the world kept de- 
luding us here for over half an hour." 

Policeman^" Well? " 

NoRAH. — " We want to know your honor which is the road to Har- 
lem and Grand." 

Policeman. — " There's no such place. You mean Harlem ; about 
a dozen blocks from here.^' 

Mickey. — Interrupting. " A dozen blocks ! Phat do you mane at 
all? I can't see wan let alone a dozen.'^ 

Policeman. — " Streets — You'll see a Third Aveuue Car, then you're 
all right." Exit. 

Mickey. — " I dun know about that. There's a mistake some- 
where. But as I'm sure there must be such a place as Harlem and 
Grand I'll go there and nowhere else. Come Norah and don't 
forget to remember the name — the corner of Harlem and Grand." 

Norah. — Her arm in his. "The corner of Harlem and Grand." 
They exit repeating the name. 

Change or Scene. 

Scene Third. 

(Interior of a tenement house — six rooms facing audience, 
two on the ground floor, two above, and two above that. The L. 
H. room is John Martin's — the same furniture and same set as in 
Act 1st. The E. H. room is vacant. "The first floor above L. H. room 
is very poorly furnished, an old cot bed, an old bureau, two common 
chairs and a wash-tub — Mrs. Jaggers discovered washing In E. H. 
room which is poorly furnished, a woman sits at table sewing, mak- 
ing shirts, two small children, one in cradle which the woman is rock- 
ing with her foot. On the top story two men seated at table in room 
R. H. playing cards. On the L. H., man and woman are sitting at 
the table eating. A hallway and stairs divide the rooms and are seen 
by the audience. At opening of scene Jaggers enters L. H. apart- 
ment. 

Jaggers. — "John Martin where are you? Looking round room. 
What ! no one here ! I wonder where dat bloke is gone. It can't 
be dat he's cut and run and cheated me after all my trouble and all 



37 

de chances I took. Looks round. Dere^s nothing here worth taking 
I must raise the wind somewheres. I guess I'll go upstairs and see 
de old woman. She may have made a fetch/' Exit out of door and 
up stairway . 

(Enter Mickey K. H. door at back with wheelbarrow full of furni- 
ture; followed by Norah, who carries bedstead and arm full of gro- 
ceries. They get stuck in doorway as both endeavor to enter at the 
same time.) 

Mickey. — " Get out of the way, you." 

NoKAH. — "Phat did you get in the way for?" 

Micky. — " Phat way could I go but this way. They enter room R. 
At last we can aspire to the dignity of American taxpayers." 

NoRAH. — " Yis for we bought the furniture on the installment plan 
as they call it and only think that in a few years you may become 
President and phat will I be tben?" 

Mickey. — Pompously "You? — When that event evintuates, I 
trust you'll uphold f©r future elevation of our family name the ex- 
isting circumstances and, not forever be calling afther me Mickey, 
Mickey. My name must be Michaelis." 

NoRAH. — ''Oh murther look at him ! Only listen to him. You're 
not President yet.^' 

Mickey. — " But I expect to get on the Police." 

NoRAH. — " How can yoa and you a furriner.'^ 

Mickey. — " That^s the very thing that will help me for they don't 
put anybody but f urriners on the Police." 

(They bring in furniture, bed and a stove. Mickey puts up bed. 
Norah brings in table and opens brown paper and begins mixing 
dough in a pan and rolling with rolling pin. Mickey putting up 
stove.) 

" The American people at present don't know that such a su- 
perior being as meself exists. — When that time comes Mrs. Mc- 
Narnara and it evintually will come the transmogrification from 
Michaelis McNamara to the President of the United States will be 
the most wonderful change on record." 

NoRAH. — Joyfully " And Mickey — " 

Mickey. — Angry " Michaelis I tell you." 



38 

NoBAH. — "Hould your whist. D^ye think ye're in the White 
House now ?" 

Mickey. — "No but I ought to be." Lets the stove-pipe fall on her 
head. 

NoRAH. — " Oh murther I'm kilt entirely. I'm assassinated." 
Runs and heats him,. 

Mickey. — "No, Norah you're only exasperated." 

NoRAH. — "Do it again and yeMl be exterminated. Look at tha 
dough, it's all over soot." 

Mickey. — "Well that will suttle it." Lays on bed. 

NoRAH. — "Yes and this will suttle you." 

( Hits him with dough. Bed breaks through and lets Mickey fall 
on the floor. Mickey gets up and seizes Norah.) 

Mickey. — " Til malvader you. Are ye trying to make funeral av 
me, in a strange counthry too ?" 

( They fight all over the room overturning stove and bedstead. 
Enter policeman who seizes Mickey. Norah and Mickey grapple 
with policeman and all three fight out of door. 

(Enter Jaggers up stairs, room L. Mrs. Jaggers has been wash- 
ing at tub all durring scene.) 

Mrs. Jaggers. — Looks up from tub and sees him. "Oh Joe, my Joe." 
Buns to him. 

Jaggers. — Pushing her back. "Shut the door and don't make all 
that noise." 

Mrs. Jaggers. — Starting. " Joe, Joe, your eyes look evil." 

Jaggers. — " There's evil in my heart too. Do you remember our 
last parting ? " 

Mrs. Jaaggers.^ — " Heaven knows I do. Joe, my son, you raised 
your hand against your own mother." 

Jaggers, — " Shut up. What's de matter wid you. Must you 
always try to alarm de neighborhood when I come home ? " 

Mrs. Jaggers. — Sadly. " Home, did you say? " 

Jaggers. — " Yes, why not, I have no other home. My troat is on 



39 

fire. My brain's or fire. Have you nothing to drink in de house 
mudder? " 

Mrs. Jaggers. — " No Joe nor the means to get anything." 

Jaggers. — "Cold comfort. Dat's a pretty welcome I git when I 
come home like a dutiful son. Aside. I'll get some dust from that 
fool Martin or I do him." 

Mrs. Jaggers. — " What do you say, Joe ? " 

Jaggers. — " Never mind. Hush ! What's dat? '' 

Mrs. Jaggers. — "Only someone coming up stairs." 

Jaggers. — " I don't know dat any one's shadering me but dere 
may be. Dis is a hard world. Aloud. You have no money." 

Mrs. Jaggers. — "No Joe, no money." 

Jaggers. — "No fire, no drink, no money." 

Mrs. Jaggers. — " I have a little food in the house yet." 

Jaggers. — " Turn it into liquor and that will suit me. Couldn't 
you sell some of the furniture ? " 

Mrs. Jaggers. — "No Joe, besides that wouldn't be right. 1 have 
clung to these poor little things through thick and thin. I have 
them insured for 



Jaggers. — Starting. " A hundred dollars. Where's de policy. 
Let me see de policy." 

Mrs. Jaggers. — " What for, Joe ? '' 

Jaggers. — " Never you mind what for. Give me de paper quick 
or it will be the worse for you." Threatens her — Mrs. Jaggers goes to 
bureau draw. " It's in here Joe — Feels in her pocket — But I must 
have mislaid the key." 

Jaggers. — " When did you have it last ?" 

Mrs. Jaggers. — " I had it just before I went down in the cellar to 
chop some wood." 

Jaggers. — " Den go and look for it, quick, quick." 

(Takes her and pushes her out of the door; she stumbles and falls 



40 

on the stairwa^y, Mickey and Norah, who have just entered catch her 
and carry her in their apartment R,) 

Mickey. — "Poor ould woman." 

Norah. — " How did you come to fall Ma'am ?" 

Mrs. Jaggers — Aside. " I cannot tell them that my own son threw 
me down the stairs." 

Mickey. — Fixing mattress. "There Ma'am, lie down there until ye 
recover Ma'am. They place Mrs. Jaggers on mattress L. H. Norah, 
isn't it lucky we got arrested, only for that I would never have found 
me first cousin Corn}^ or to spake more correctly Cornelius McGowan 
who is an Alderman in the Legislate of the City and County of New 
York. He happened to be in the lock-up for blacking a mail's eye 
when the bobby took us in. Sure but he soon phat you call it ?" 

Norah— "Phat?" 

Mickey. — " What do they do to a boat when it's full of wather?' 

Norah. — " Why they take a gimblet and bore a hole in it and let 
the water run out." 

Mickey. — " No, no, what else do they do when they get a cup ?" 

Norah. — "Why they take drink if there's any whiskey in it." 

Mickey. — "No, no, I've got it; — They bail it out, and that's what 
me cousin Cornelius done for us. He's going to have me 'put on 
the police to-morrow he says. I'll be a captain in three weeks as he 
has ail the pull with the commissioner." 

Norah. — "Yes and we're to meet him up on the Casino roof. 
That's a mighty quare place Mickey to meet on a roof." 

Mickey. — " Sure he's so high in power that terra-firma is too low 
for him to walk on. So he has to take to the roof to show thim his 
superiority over the common herd." 

( Jaggers during this scene has been forcing bureau drawer with 

the stove poker.) 

Jaggers, — " Dere dat beats all your keys. Looking m draw — And 
here's de policy. Good ! now den to make a raise — Looking at 
policy and reading it slowly — In favor of Joseph Jaggers— dats me, 
so me old mudder don't forget me, Now to make de policy good." 



41 

(Puts paper in his pocket — looks around, dnds kerosene oil can — 
saturates clothing in beaureau drawers and sets them afire ; throws 
kerosene over floor, and sets place on fire, and hastily exits locking 
door.) 

NoRAH. — "Sure your cousin Corney is a great man." 

Mickey. — " Corney, no Cornelius. Don't abbreviate me cousin's 
name — thejire is seen burning — Jaggers rushes down steps and out of 
the door—l smell smoke, there's something burning in the house. 

(Hejseizes axe, rushes out of door and up stairway followed by 
Norah. They reach the door of L. H. room, on second flat and 
find it locked. Mickey breaks it down with axe and tries to enter room 
but is driven back by fire and smoke. Woman screams and children 
cry in E. H. room secood floor. Mickey breaks in door, Norah 
seizes one child and Mickey the other followed by woman. They 
try to descend the stairs but are driven back by the flames. They 
then make for the roof. The other tenants try to escape by the 
stairway some of them do, while others are driven to the roof. 
Stage and house get perfectly dark, steam whistles and fire gongs 
are heard ; when lights go up the front of the tenement house is 
down, with Mickey, Norah, women and children on the roof. The 
fire flames are issuing from the windows. Firemen drive on truck 
and raise ladders Mickey and Norah wrangle who shall go first. 
They have children in their arms. The women are carried down 
ladder by firemen, then Norah, with child in her arms — then Mickey 
with a child. As Mickey is descending ladder, the whole front of 
house falls, showing fire within. Firemen and people working and 
shouting all through scene.) 

CUKTAIN. 



42 

ACT THIRD. 

(The Casino Roof Garden — Flowers, statues, platform behind on 
which band is playing — tables R. and L, with ladies and gentlemen 
seated, some promenading — waiters bringing drinks, cigars and ice 
cream to the various customers. At R. H, table Rosa Summers and 
Blanche Dudley are seated with Walter Hurbert and Algernon Fitz- 
roy, two young men made up very dudish with English eye glass etc. 
At L., Cora Pearl, Carrie Matthewson and two dudes are seated at 
table — table C. is vacant.) 

Rosa. — " Isn't this delightful ?" Drinking glass of champagne. 

Herbert. — Sipping wine and speaking with drawl. "What, the 
wine ?" 

Rosa. — "No, the scene." 

Blanche. — " Where in the world could you equal it ?" 

FiTZROY. — Sipping wine and speaking with English accent. "You 
never saw the Alhambra in dear old London; how I miss it. Takes 
out cigarette case and lights cigarette. You can't get even a decent ci- 
garette in this blawsted country fit for a gentleman to smoke." 

Rosa. — " Why Fitzroy I thought you were born in this country ?" 

FiTZROY.— " Ah Miss Rosa that was my misfortune and not my fault. 
Had I been consulted I should ha\'e preferred that interesting 
event occuring in London, dear old London with its fogs and 
such chappies as I never met before. How they entertained me 
when I was over. Entertain ! Confound that word, my vulgar Amer- 
icanisms will keep popi)ing up — I should have said, what jolly larks 
they gave me over there." 

Blanche. — " Then Mr. Fitzroy there are no vulgar fellows in Lon- 
don." 

Fitzroy. — "Oh yes there may a vulgar fellow if you'd search for 
hjm but he blooming well knows what society to poke his blooming 
nose into. He cawn't associate with gentlemen you know; while in 
this blawsted country every blooming swine thinks he's your equal, 
don't you know ?" 

Herbert. — "That's so. I cawn't endure your vulgar American." 

Rosa. — " Does your father approve of your English notions, Mr. 
Fitzroy?" 



43 

FiTZROY. — " No 1 cawn*t say that he does, but you know I don't as- 
sociate with my old governor only as far as I am compelled to do so 
financially. '^ 

Rosa, — " Oh, you only allow him to support you. Is that it ? " 

FiTZROY. — " ^es, that's it. You see my governor made his money 
in trade and I despise anything so vulgar." 

. Blanche. — "Quite right Mr, Fitzroy." Enter Charley Raymond, 
G. and Jac. R. H. 

FiTZROY. — " Oh, here Comes Chawley Raymond, who has he with 
him ? " 

Rosa. — " Why if it isn't that old Jew Noah's servant girl. I'm 
astonished that he'd be seen in such company." 

FiTZROY. — " A servant girl, a slavey. By Jove I'll cut him." 

Charley. — Grossing over and taking G. table. "How are you Fitz.? '' 
Hellow Herbert. Ah girls, there you are. Come Jac, sit down. 
Here waiter, bring us something." Givei^ order to waiter. 

Jac. — " Are you sure Charley that your father will seek you here? ' 

Charley. — " Yes ; I have appointed this place to meet him, for 
he is liable to storm a great deal, and the soft strains of the music 
may calm his turbulent spirits. '' 

Jac. — " Where shall I go while you speak to him ? " 

Charley. — " Just sit right here, so you can overhear our conversa- 
tion — Looking R. — Oh here he comes now, so be prepared Jac.'' Gets 
up from table and meets Raymond G. " Well my dear dad I'm glad 
to see you. What brings you here ? " 

Raymond.— "What brings me here. You know well enough what 
brings me here. Why didn't you come home ? " 

Charley. — " I was afraid to Dad." 

Raymond.-—" What ? In debt again ?" 

Charley. — " Worse than that, Dad." 

Raymond. — " Worse ! You haven't committed a murder, have you?" 

Charley. — -" No dad, not quite so bad as that, but almost." 



44 

Raymond, — " Almost ! Come Sir, tell me what you have done, let 
me know the worst at once/' 

Charley. — " Why dad the fact is I promised to marry that girl 
there. Points to Jac.^ who is sitting at table. There, the murder is 
out." 

Raymond. — "You haven^t Charley, Looks at Jac. who is drinking 
from bottle. You haven't been such a fool. Looks again at Jac. I al- 
ways feared it would come to this when I heard you were frequent- 
ing the Casino roof, but I hoped against hope and I did trust you 
would be preserved by Providence from plunging into such an abyss 
of imbecility." 

Charley. — " My dear dad; you take things seriously.'^ 

Raymond. — "Why what is more serious than a promise of mar- 
riage." 

Charley. — "But my dear dad." ' 

Raymond. — "Don't dear dad me — I won't be d added by you any 
longer. I am your father I presume, though Heaven forgive me tor 
begetting such an ass; I knew you were a fool but now I'm convinced 
you are worse." 

Charley. — Anginly. — "You are my father and have some privileges 
of language but this exceeds all that I will endure. I would rather 
break stones than submit to such an insult." 

Raymond. — "I'd rejoice to see you break stones or do any useful 
work, for at present you are breaking your father's heart.'' Takes out 
handkerchief and wipes his eyes. 

Charley. — " Don't cry — remember where you are — on the Casino 
roof." 

Raymond. — "Damn the Casino roof.'' 

Charley. — " My dear dad — " 

Raymond. — " Don't dear dad me. Why the devil did you promise 
to marry the girl?" 

Charley. — " Let me explain." 

Raymond. — " Explain nothing. Who is she ? A ballet girl ?" 



45 

Charley. — " No her name is Jacquinette a nice enough sort of girl 
with plenty of braius." 

Raymond. — Looking at Jac. who is drinking. " And modesty too I 
presume. That will do. I asked you who she was? You answer a 
girl — enough — now I know she is not a widow. I want none of your 
love raptures. Have you written her any letters ? Jac. motions Char- 
ley to say yes. Made her any presents?" 

Charley. — Looking at Jac. "I made her a present of a silk dress 
and a necklace of a Roman Pearls and we had our pictures taken to- 
gether." 

Raymond. — " Hand in hand.'' 

Charley. — "Yes, cabinet size.'' 

Raymond. — "That settles it — that will do — you gave her a neck- 
lace, and a dress, and was photographed witLi her hand in hand. 
Very well or rather very ill. She don't swear you were closeted with 
her. Does she ? " 

Charley, — " When I was talking with her I thought — 

Raymond. — " Never mind what you thought. I want facts not 
fancies. Did you ask her to be your wife ? " 

Charley.— "It came about like this, the other evening when I 
was here — 

Raymond. — "I'm not; asking jon the time of day nor the circum- 
stances. I only want to know did you ask her to be your wife" 

Charley. — " I believe I did say once I would like to make her 
Mrs. Charley Raymond, or words to that effect. I don't recollect 
the exact expression." 

Raymond. — " Very well. You asked her to be Mrs. Charley Ray- 
mond, but the exact words in which you couched your proposal 
you don't recollect — " 

Charley. — "It was not a proposal." 

Raymond. — " Not a proposal ! Then what the devil was it ? A 
present of a pearl necklace, a silk dress and photographed clasping 
hands." 

Charley. — " There is no positive engagement." 



46 

Kaymond. — '* No positive engagement. Bo 5'Ou dare say that— 
Don't repeat it if you desire to retain a particle of my regard. 
Where does this girl live ? " Points to Jac. 

Charley. — " She lives in Noah Ark." 

Eaymond. — " Noah Ark. Is is she a' beast ? " 

Chaelei. — Looking at Jac. " No ; she's a beauty." 

Raymond .—" And where is this place you designate Noah Ark.'^ 

Charley. — " It's a pawn shop in Christie street, kept by Mr. 
Noah." 

Raymond. — " Oh, that's the jews name who keeps the ark. Is she 
Noah's daughter ? " 

Charley. — " No, she's not his daughter. She's a foundling. She 
was picked out of the gutter by Noah after the flood." 

Raymond, — "Worse and worse. Picked out of the gutter by 
Noah — that's a grea^ point for the lawyers — a poor foundling picked 
out of the gutter by a jew, and betrayed by a Christian. My son I'll 
have to get you out of this scrape. I won't have the scandal of a 
breach of promise suit in the papers. It might hurt my business. 
How old is she?" 

Charley. — " About seventeen or eighteen." 

Raymond. — '* She has no relations you say." 

Charley. — " Not one." 

Raymond. — "There's that fox Noah." 

Charley. — "She will never consult him. ' 

Raymond. — " What will she take to let you off? I dare say $500 
will do it. I'll offer it to her with one hand, and a written renun- 
ciation of you with the other. Now you entertain her while I 
draw go and draw up the paper for her to sign. Charley laughs. 
It's no laughing matter, this may cost $10,000. Juries estimate 
damages by the income of the prospective father-in-law. Why the 
devil did you ask her to marry you? I'll be lucky if I can clear you 
for a $1,000, and there's no time like the present to make the offer." 

Charley. — " Give me the money and I'll offer it to her." 



47 

Raymond. — " No Charley, you're too weak. You'd give the girl 
the money without asking her to sign the release. No, the job 
must be done by me. Now Charley when I return with the paper 
you get out and leave me to deal with her. I'll t;o over to the Hotel 
and write it." Exit R. H. Charley goes up to Jac. and laughs. 

Charley. — '*It's ail right Jac. He'ts gone to draw up a paper for 
you to sign." 

Jac. — "Poor old man. I declare Charley your'e too hard on him, 
but I'll keep my promise to you this time — still don't ask me to do 
such a thing again." 

FiTZEOY. — At R. H. table. " Who was the old party talking to 
Charley Raymond ? ^' 

Herbert. — "His governor." 

FiTZROY. — " What, the iron man?" 

Herbert. — "Yes." 

FiTZROY — "He seemed excited. I suspect Charley has been high 
rolling." 

Rosa. — "I think there's a woman in the case." 

FiTZROY, — " Perhaps that little servant of Uncle Noah has some- 
thing to do with jiis governor's anger." 

Blanche. — " I thought Charley had more taste than to appear in 
public place like this with a servant girl." 

FiTZROY. — "So did I. Calling. Waiter bring us four iee creams." 
Waiter comes to table. 

Herbert. — " Yes and a quart bottle of Pomerey Sec. and have it 
well iced." Waiter exits. 

Enter Mr. Raymond, R. H. 

Charley. — Seei^ig him. " Here comes my Dad Jac; now work him 
for the thousand if possible. I'd better disappear." 

(Leaves her and goes up back of stage — Raymond goes to table C. 
where Jac. is seated and sits down. 

Raymond. — Looking at Jac. I beg pardon. Are you not the young 
lady I saw with my son Charley Raymond ? ' 



48 

Jac. — "Yes sir." Hides her face behind her fan. 

Raymond. — Trying to look in her face. "Your name or first name 
is Jacquinette isn't it? I don't know your other name." 

Jac. — Shyly looking at him over her fan. "It is. I am called Jac. " 
for short, I have no other name. Looking at him. Are you Mr. Ray- 
mond, my Charley's father ?" 

Raymond. — Aside "Her Charley — well, well confound her impu- 
dence but why the devil did be promise to marry her. Aloud angrily. 
You have not a leg to stanci upon/' 

Jac. — Pulling up dress. " Haven't I ?" Raymond looks at her shoes. 

Raymond. — Aside. " She has holes in her stockings. Aloud. My 
son is a fool but no such fool as to propose to make a girl his wife 
who has holes in her stockings. '^ 

Jag — Puts dress down hastily and tries to cover feet. " Sir !" 

Raymond — "He swears he never asked you." Charley appears at 

back G. and makes signs to Jac. 

Jac. — Seeing him and pretending to cry. " Oh how could he say 
that? Oh Charley why did I ever listen to your soft soder? 

Raymond. — " Soft soder ! That's pretty language for a young lady 
who aspires to the name of Raymond. Aloud. Now look here, don't 
bawl. It won't help matters and will draw the attention of ull the 
people. '' 

Fitzroy. — Looking over at table G. " By Jove there's trouble over 
there. The old gent has made the girl cry. I fear Charley is a 
sad dog/' 

Rosa. — " Oh a woman can be made to cry very easy when it suits 
her purpose. Can't she Blanche ? " 

Blanche. — " Yes indeed." 

Raymond. — To Jac. " I don't mind squaring it off but if you 
choose to fight I'm your man, with thousands at my disposal to throw 
away in law. Now what do you say ? Jac. makes signs to Gharley 
and cries louder. Hush, hush. You are drawing the attention of 
all the people toward us. Aside. Why the devil did he ever prom- 
ise to marry her. Aloud, Perhaps you think the law is made for 



49 

the purpose of redressing wrongs. No such thing. Law is made 
for the maintenance of lawyers. Justice is sold to the highest bidder 
and he with the most money buys it — he can appeal from Court to 
Court and ruin his adversary. You have nothing. What lawyer 
will look at you ? Are you disposed to compromise ? Jac, still pre- 
tends to cry — makes signs to Charley behind herfan,\ 

FiTZEOY. — " There she goes again. That girl is a perfect Niagara 
Falls — a human waterspout.^' 

EoSA. — " Ah Fitzy you are hard hearted when even tears can not 
move you." 

FiTZROY. — ', My dear Miss Rosa I'm the most susceptable fellow in 
the world to a woman's tears. They can get anything out of me by a 
little judicous weeping. 

Rosa, — Aside " I'll remember that when it occurs/^ 

Jac. — Looking over her fan at Raymond. " What will you give?" 

Raymond. — Aside. " The mercernary creature." 

Jac— " Will you give $500 ? " 

Raymond. — " Five hundred dollars ! Nonsense. Say one, and 
I'U listen to you." 

Jac. — Holding up one finger behind fan to Charley. Charley shakes 
head and holds up five fingers. " I have named the sum." 

FiTZROY. — " Charley and she seem to understand one another. 
Look he's making signs to her behind the old boys back." 

Raymond. — "You'll get nothing if you refuse my offer.". 

Jac. — Crying. " Oh Charley, Charley." 

Raymond. — " Hush, hush or the whole affair will be in the paper 
in the morning. Aside. Damn her Charley ! Why the devil did he 
promise to marry her? Aloud. Charley is ashamed of himself al- 
ready for ever having spoken to you. What are you? A gutter girl." 

Jac. — Crying. "Lower than that Sir. Daddy Noah says he got 
me out of a garbage barrel." 

Raymond. — " Charley has not a nickel of his own." 



50 

Jac. — " He has less than a nickel — he's in debt but still he*s my 
Charley." 

Eaymond. — " Will you give him up ?" 

Jac. — "For nothing? No he's worth more than that to me. You 
know my terms." 

Raymond. — Aside. " Dash it, damn it — why did he ever promise 
to marry her. Takes put his pocket book. Now look here ! Here is a 
hundred dollar bill; it looks as big as a five hundred." 

Jac. — " No, no, five hundred or nothing. Look ! here is the pres- 
ent he gave me." Shows necklace. 

Raymond. — Aside. " The pearl necklace. Why did he ever prom- 
ise to marry her ? Well I suppose I must give her the money. Aloud. 
Now listen to this paper Takes paper from his pocket and reads it. 
For and in consideration of five hundred dollars paid to me I do here- 
by renounce all claim on Charles Raymond — there ! Gives her pencil. 
Sign that and the five hundred dollars are yours. Aside. So much 
money gone. Why the devil did he ever promise to marry her ?" 

Jac. — Looking at paper and pretending to spell out the words, holds it 
upside down " Oh Charley, Charley must I sell you for five hundred 
dollars.^' 

Raymond. — Aside. " There I thought so — the girl is an ignoramus 
— she can't read it. Aloud. All you have to do is to make your mark 
here." Pointing to paper. 

Jac. — " Yes Sir. Takes up pencil. But give me the money first.'' 

Raymond. — Counting out notes. There's five hundred dollars. Aside 
Why the devil did he ever promise to marry her." 

(Jac. takes pencil and signs her name with a flourish — Raymond 
looks astounded.) 

Raymond, — Aside. " That girl has been fooling me. She's sharper 
than I thought. Puts paper in pocket. Now we've settled the 
matter. I'll go and find Charley. To Jac. Good night. Exit 
R. H. 

Waiter brings bottle of Champagne and four ice creams to R. H. table. 

FiTZROY, — Paying waiter for ice cream. Herbert pays for wine " By 



51 

jove, there's something up. Did you see the old boy give her 
money ? *^ 

Herbert. — "And from his manner of counting, I should say it was 
a goodly amount.'^ 

Charley. — Coming down from behind group G, Bravo Jac, you did 
that well. How you tricked poor old dad." 

Jac. — Handing him money. Here Charley, go and pay your debts, 
and don't drive me to such extremities again for I could^nt sell you 
a second time to the same purchaser." 

Charley. — Talcing notes. "All right Jac. Youll never find me 
in another scrape like this ; but come, let us mingle with the crowd, 
for old dad might return and catch us together.^' They go up G. 

(Fitzroy, Herbert, Rose and Blanche, leave table and go C. looking 
after Charley and Jac). 

Fitzroy. — Speaking as he goes up. "By jove that's strange. Did 
you see her give him the money ? '* 

(Music — The band plays waltz — Enter Mickey and Norah dressed 
in eccentric manner, they waltz to music, knocking against every- 
body in the way — music stops after business). 

Mickey. — "Norah here's a place. Come and sit down. Sits at 
R. H. table. Looking at bottte. Look at that now, me cousin, the 
Alderman, has ordhered supper prepared for us. Tries to open bottle 
of Ghampagne. Gork flies out and hits him in the eye. Oh murther ! 
me eye is out. Come away from it-there's dynamite in that thing sure 
— phat the divil is it at all, at all ? Picks up bottle gingerly ^ smells 
it, pours some out, tastes it, smacks his lips, pours a glass out for Norah. 
Be the powers that's quare whiskey, but it's good." 

Norah. — "It's mighty sweet for whiskey." 

Mickey. — " It's the way they have of making it in this counthry. 
Ivery wan they say is looking for sugar, and even the whiskey has 
the same failing." 

Norah. — Looking at ice cream. "Andphat's that? Soap suds is 
it?" 

Mickey. — "No it looks like frozen snow. Whaiis it anyhow?" 
Norah.—" Maybe it's horse radish.'^ 



52 

Mickey. — " It might be starched oysters. Lets taste it." 

NoRAH. — " Well you go first and if it don't kill ye, thin I know I'm 
safe to try it." 

Mickey. — " No we'll both go for it at wance and if its fatal we can 
die together. Now ready — they take up spoons — whin I give the word 
we'll both swallow together." 

;^oRAH. — "And they say two swallows make a summer." They fill 
their spoons with cream, 

Mickey. — " Fire — they eat cream and splutter. — Oh murdher — ivery 
tooth in my head is aching.'^ 

NoRAH. — " Sure I feel as if I had swallowed an icicle and it was 
freezing the insides out of me. Mickey takes up Champagne bottle and 
takes a big drink. Begorra lets have another go at it." 

(They both eat cream — Fitzroy, Herbert, Kosa and Blanche come 
to R. H. table.) 

Fitzroy. — Seeing Mickey and Norah eating cream and putting glass 
up to eye. " Well, that^s cool." 

Mickey. — "Faith it is. Ye may well say that but here's the stuff 
to wash it down wid." Drinks from bottle. 

Fitzroy. — " What are you doing fellow ? Don't you know you are 
eating our refreshments?" 

Norah. — Imitating him. " Your refreshments ! What the divil re- 
freshments are your refreshments.'^ 

Mickey. — Looking at eye glass. " Put your window down and we'll 
talk to ye's." 

Fitzroy. — " My window fellow. What do you mean ?" 

Mickey. — " I mane that thing ye have in your eye. " 

Fitzroy. — ** That's not a window but a monocle." 

Mickey. — " I'll make a miracle out of it if ye interfere wid us." 
Starts toward Fitzroy who retreats behind girls. 

Norah. — Grabs Fitzroy and pulls him out from behind girls "Mickey 
is this the kind of things they raise in this counthry ?" 



53 



Mickey. — *' I don't know. Ill ask me cousin Alderman McGowan, 
whin I see him." 

FiTZROY. — "I say old fellow: Your^e green ain't you?" 

Mickey. — " I am Sir. I come from the land of the shamrock that 
every Irishman should keep green forever." 

FiTZROY. — "The shamrock? Yes, that's a little flower with three 
leaves. Isn't it ? " 

Mickey. — " It is Sir ; meaning, friendship, love and truth," 

NoRAH. — *' Sure where were ye born that ye don't know the mean- 
ing of the shamrock?^' 

FiTZROY. — "I was born in America ; but I would like to have been 
born in England.^' 

Mickey. — "Ye would — Well I'm sorry for ye, for 'tis the likes of 
ye that makes the name of an American a laughing stock for the 
titled gentry of the Old World." 

FiTZROY. — Aside, to girh. "We'll have some fun with these 
people. To Mickey. Well Pat." 

Mickey. — " Ye have that name Pat. enough on the end of your 
tongue. My name's not Pat. but Mickey or to spake more correctly 
Michaelis McNamara, all the way from Donegal, in the ould sod.'' 

FiTZROY. — Taking up bottle. "Here have a drink of Champagne." 

Mickey. — "Is that Champainey? We thought it was sweetened 
whiskey. Drinks. Well it's good stuff what ever ye call it. I feel 
like a feather in the wind, and could sing a stave that would make 
a donkey say his prayers." 

FiTZROY. — " Can you sing." 

Mickey. — "Can I sing? I was considhered the greatest singer 

in county Donegal. When I'd begin all the birds would hide their 
heads wid shame." 

NoRAH. — "And the very geese would hiss with envy." 
FiTZROY. — " Then give us a song old fellow." 
Mickey. — " If I do will ye's all join in the Chorus ? " 



54 

FiTZRoy AND Herbert. — " We will.'^ 

MiOKEY. — " Then here goes/^ 

(Song, Mickey — all the people on the stage grouped 'round Mickey 
and Norah. After song Mickey and Norah dance. Enter Waiter 
who takes Mickey by collar."} 

Waiter. — "Here you must stop this.'^ 

Mickey.—" Who are ye spaking to ? " 

Waiter — " I'm speaking to you." 

Mickey. — " Are ye the boss ? " 

Waiter. — -'No, I'm a waiter." 

Mickey. — "Then go and wait till I call ye. (Hits him — people 
laugh and cry 'go it Paddy.' Fight between Mickey, Norah and 
-vvaiter — policeman comes down and seizes Mickey and Norah.) Ill 
get me cousin. Alderman McGowan, to close the place up". 

(Mickey and Norah fight with policeman off — people all go and 
resume their seats — Enter John Martin, well dressed with Kuth. 
They seat themselves). 

John. — "Look, Kuth. This is something like life — Here waiter, a 
bottle of claret — Waiter takes their order and exits R. What a 
change from the squalid poverty in our tenement in Christie street 
to this scene of enchantment." 

Ruth. — " John I came here almost against my will because you 
desired it. I am with you ever as you decide^ I will share all your 
joys and sorrows, and if retribution must come I will pray to Heaven 
that I may lift from your heart some of its burthen. ^^ 

John. — " Hush! all is well, quite well. We shall be same as ever, 
only rich, so rich '' — 

(Enter Jaggers, R. H.. wearing white hat with black band round 
it, he seats himself at table C). 

Jaggers. — Seeing John. How do — bright and shining, eh ? Right 
and tight and all serene." 

John. — " Looking at him, " Do you want to speak to me? '' 

Jaggers, — "Sure. Mum's de word with me See? Singing — 
Jolly Companions Everyone.' " 



55 

John. — To Ruth. " My dear will you leave us for a few minutes ? ^* 

Jaggers. — " Yes, and order a bottle of wine. I have urgent busi- 
ness wid your husband, and my throat's as dry as a lime kiln. 

EuTH. — Looking at John, " Shall I ? " 

John. — " Yes Ruth, do as he requests. Leave us for a few mo- 
ments." Buth goes and sit at empty table L. H. 

Jaggers. — Sits at table with John. " I hope they will hurry up wid 
de wine fur I'm as dry as a fish. Then again wine stimulates the 
brain, and my brain at present wants stimulating. See ? " 

John. — Sitting. " Now Sir what's your business with me ?" 

Jaggers. — "I'll tell you in a moment. Don't be impatient." 

Enter Waiter with bottle of claret and two glasses he places them on 

table and exits R. 

John. — "I don't know you. I don't want to know you," 

Jaggers. — Uncorking bottle and pouring out wine. Oh indeed — a 
glass of wine ? Fills John's glass and looks around. Where's my hat ? 
Finds hat under table. Oh here it is, white you see wid black crape 
on it. Now don't look cross, I wear it fur me mudder de dear old 
lady who used to take in washing to support me — but she's dead, a 
sad affliction, a very sad affliction. I aint got no one to support me 
now, no one but you John. Now don't yer look cross . Takes a glass 
of wine drinks it and spits it out on stage. What's dis ? Vinegar ? 
What do yer call it ? Red ink? Looks at bottle. Oh I see, Claret! 
Well dat's your taste. Haven't you something stronger and not so 
like vinegar ?" 

JoBin.—Bising. " This is insolence." 

Jaggers. — "Bah! Bah ! I know you John Martin and you know 
me. You know the tenement in Chrystie Street^ second floor front 
and Mrs. Jaggers the old gal who took in washing !" 

John. — ''' This is trifling. What do you want ? Tell me at once or 
I'll have you arrested^" 

Jaggers. — " Oh will yer ? Well I'm coming to dat — Blew ! Oh 
how it blew. Well I didn't know if de old gal — dat's my mudder, 
I mean it in an affectionate way. You see I didn't know if she had 
any money in de house and as I was hard up and dead broke I just 



56 

slugged a gent in de street but I didn't get much from him only his 
watch which I hocked for a beggarly five dollars. Well some troublesome 
feller saw me and hollered fer de cop but I was too fly for dem. I 
scouted and dey after me; I knew de neighborhood better den dem 
and I got into your kitchen and hid dere and I hod such a good sight 
of what happened. Bless your heart, you had no more idear of my 
being dere dan nothin." 

John starts puts his hand to head and leans bach in chair. 

John. — Speaking in husky tone. " Go on, go on." 

Jaggers. — "Well I hid dere. Gets up and looks off then leans over 
to John. Well dere came some one in at de front door — de very same 
gent dat I knocked down by a tap — only a slight tap mind — wid a 
life preserver. Well you spoke to him and he spoke to you and den 
went off dead very dead and you looked out for yourself — ^very pro- 
per enough. You found a diamond, good ! Now here you are. I 
was Joe. Jaggers de son of old lady Jaggers wot took in washing to 
support me and sometimes half starved me, but now I'm rich, jolly 
and prosperous by de proceeds of dat diamond." 

Jons.— Sinking back in chair. " It's all over — it's all over." 

Jaggers. — "What's all over eh? We know each oder see ? It's all 
right and I say halves " 

(John get up and paces up and down — Jaggers follows — John turns 
suddenly and faces him.) 

John. — " Jaggers I sold that diamond — ". 

Jaggers — Looking at John. " Dat's evident. I see de result." 

John. — " For five hundred dollars — here's two hundred and fifty. 
Gives him notes. Leave this place and never let me see you again." 

Jaggers. — Counting money. "Your hand pard, — takes John's hand. 
dat will do — eat drink and be merr3^ I wish you joy. When I want 
to see you again 111 find you. Remember you are the only one I 
have to look to now me mudder's gone. Where's my hat wid de crape 
on it? Oh here it is — but don't be drinking dat stuff. Points to bot- 
tle. It will kill my dear goose that lays the golden egg — ta, ta, 
goodbye." Exit R. 2. E. 

J ORS.- -Staggers and falls in chair. Ruth enter R. 2. E. "It's all 
over, all oyer." 



5t 

Ruth. — Running to him. ''John, husband; what's the matter?" 

John. — Recovering. " That villian Jaggers has robbed me of two 
hundred and fifty dollars." 

Ruth. — "You will have him arrested?" 

John. — "No Ruth no, we are not in a position to envoke the law. 
the atrocious villain — to be the sport of such a wretch — to be sub- 
ject to his extortion — no, no." 

Ruth.— "John!" 

John. — "Hush! I am nearly mad, let me think. Wife, wife, was 
I ever in all my poverty like this — ever so full of fear, ever so un- 
happy ? " 

Ruth. — Weeping. " Never ; John, never." 

John. — "To-morrow we will go from here far away, in some other 
land, we will seek peace.'' Noise outside R. John starts. 

Enter Mayden and Detective, R. H. 

Mayden. — To John. "You villian! You impostor ! Where is my 
money ? The diamond is false. Seize him officers, he has robbed 
me of a $1000." 

(Officers seize Martin, who breaks away from them and rushes to 
window R. H., and disapears through widow. A general scream 
from women. Scene revolves, enclosing characters and showing out- 
side of Casino, all illuminated. Martin is seen on fire escape near 
tower R. Enter policeman R. H. dragging Mickey and Norah). 

Mickey. — " Let go your holt, bad luck to yes. Do yes call this a 
free counthry where a man and his wife is taken up for singing a 
song." 

Norah. — " Give it to the peeler Mickey/' 

(She trips policeman who falls on stage — he gets up and raises 
his clup to strike her, when Alderman McGowan enters and seizes 
club). 

Mickey. — Recognizing him. "Phat ! me first cousin." 

McGowAN. — To policeman. " Young fellow, you've insulted and 
very nearly assaulted me first cousin, and I'll have ye broke for it." 



58 

Policeman. — " You will? Then I'll break your head." 

McGovERN. — Pompously. " Strike me if your dare. I'm Alderman 
McGowan, and I'll break you before morning," 

Mickey. — Bushing at policeman. " Let me at him and I'll break 
him to-night." 

(All this time Martin is coming down fire escape — policemen ap- 
pear at upper window of Casino and fire at him, he falls to stage and 
is seized by policeman. People appear at Casino windows). 



TABLEAU AND CURTAIN. 



59 

ACT FOUETH. 

(The interior of the Ark, the same as Scene first, Act second). 

(The stage strewn with goods, three large empty trunks with lids 
up as if they were getting packed. Daddy Noah in morning gown 
and slippers at counter). 

Daddy. — Examining diamond vyith jeweler's glass at lighted candle, 
"Ah ! beautiful diamond. I will never give you up, Never ! Never! 
I'll be off to-morrow — off by the dawn. I will pack all I want in these 
large trunks. Nothing but portable articles of value, and then I'm 
off while I can, with what I can, how successful, to be sure — no one 
suspects me — will they come here ? Will they remember I had the 
diamond in my hand ? that I put it for a moment into my pocket ? 
No ! No ! but I will be off for all that. Where's that girl Jac ? She 
must not know. No ! No ! I may lose my revenge, but gain the 
beautiful diamond. I'll go and look if the coast is clear outside be- 
fore I begin to pack up. Jac. must be in her room asleep. Ah ! 
that's well, or she might suspect something." Exent door in flat. 

(Enter Jac. down steps L.). 

Jac. — Calling Daddy, " Daddy are you there? I thought I heard 
some one here. I wonder what daddy is doing with the trunks," 
Looks at trunks. Enter Charley from door in fiat. Why Charley, 
what brings you here at this time of night ? " 

Charley, — " Why I couldn't go to bed without seeing you. I 
have been afraid to return to my father's for fear dad wiU be wait- 
ing for me there, and I want to avoid unpleasant explanations as 
long as I can." 

Jac. — " What unpleasant explanations ? Surely you're not in debt 
again ?" 

Charley. — "No, not in debt Jac, but in something worse. I'm 
in love." 

Jskc— Quickly. "With whom?" 

Charley. — "Why, with you Jac." 

Jac. — " What! with me Charley? no, no." 

Charley. — " Yes with you dear Jac, I cannot help myself — so I 
could not do otherwise then come here to-night. I have not had the 



60 

courage to tell you before — but I have been hungering for the sight 
of your face and for a word of encouragement from your lips." 

Jag. — Regretful, " I cannot, I signed you away for hve hundred 
dollars." 

Chaeley. — Laughing. " Is that all, why Jac. that was only a joke.'' 

Jac. — "No it was no joke to me; your father was in earnest, so was 
I and now it is too late.'^ 

Charley. — " Why Jac. we are old friends are we not T 

Jac* — "Yes Charley, friends — we have known each other a long 
time." 

Chabley — " What a time it seems. So much has happened — it is an 
age to me." 

Jag. — " Also to me, it has been a change from childhood to wom- 
anhood, from outward hardship to inward suffering. It cannot be 
otherwise Charley — we must part." 

Chaeley — " What, part with you Jac. ? Never ! Noah Ark is here 
and the door is open. If I choose to enter with a pair of silver spoons, 
whose to thrust me out; and if there's no customers in the shop — I 
suppose I may set down and enjoy a pleasant chat." 

Jac. — "No, never again. I have sold you, sold you for that five hun- 
dred dollars. You belong to some one else now Charley.'^ Crying. 

Charley. — " Come here Jac. She comes to him. The first time I 
met youl took you to the light to see your face, and the face I then saw 
has haunted me ever since. Come to the light and let me see your 
face again. He takes the candle and looks in her face. I will see if 
this be cursed earnest or a cruel joke — you do not mean it. You 
say it out of frolic to torture me, and when you have dri^^en me to 
desperation you will burst forth in one of your fresh laughs. Is it 
not so ? " 

Jac. — After a pause. " No Charley, it's true." 

Charley. — "What ! give you up for ever and ever. No, no, I will 
sell my clothes off my back to support you, trust me. I will work 
the flesh off my fingers for yon. Let my father keep his hateful 
money. I am in earnest. She shakes her head. Yet you will not 
believe me. Jac, you have known me only as an idler and a good 
for naught. I had n6 one then to care for, no one to work for." 



61 

Jac, — "My friend, there is a deep gulf between us. You are a rich 
man's son ; I am a poor friendless orphan girl, without friends or 
family. I have no one in the wide world but my master ; I am the 
servant, the slave of Daddy Noah, and you know how he treats me. I 
can not run away from him, it would be wrong according to my pawn 
broker's conscience. I have given my word to your father to give you 
up ; I have even signed a paper. What would your father think of 
me if I broke my word with him, would he receive me as a 
daughter? No, no, he would look upon me as a bad Scheeney woman, 
who had ensnared his only son after pledging her honor not to do 
so to his father. No matter how badly Daddy Noah had treated 
me, I must remain with him because I have nowhere else to go. I 
must work, starve, bargaiD, beg and die for him, there is but one open 
door for me to escape by and that is death." 

Charley. — " Jac., Jac, now only when I am about to lose you do 
I begin to realize what you are to me." 

Jac. — " You must leave me now Charley for Daddy may come in 
any moment; come 1^11 see you out. She starts up C. ivith Charley. 
Footsteps and a cough heard outside. No not that way Charley it's 
Daddy Noah, and after what happened between you, you know he 
has forbidden you to enter here — you know you struck him when he 
tried to beat me and he has never forgotten it; come upstairs and 
wait until you can steal out." She takes him upstairs L. and they both 
exent into room. 

Enter Daddy Noah door in flat. He bolts door and comes down the 

stage. 

Daddy. — " Now all is safe, I'll pack up the things and be ready to 
depart." 

(He opens safe and begins taking out things, watches, jewelry, 
money etc. and packs them in the trunks.) 

(Jaggers comes through window in flat, which he has forced open 
with a jimmy — he has a Dark Lantern in his hand and a small bag 
slung around his neck — he has India Rubber Shoes on his feet.) 

Jaggers. — Seeing Daddy who has his bach to him and is looking into 
safe. Aside. '' Til relieve him of some of his trouble." 

(He is creeping towards Daddy when he stumbles against trunk — 
he darts behind piano and conceals himself.) 

Daddy. — (Jumping up from safe trembling and stuffing jewelry 



62 

and money in his pockets.) " Thieves, thieves. He looks around. The 
Lord have mercy upon me; what was that — a rat, a rat — what can 
they want here — I was never up here so late before and they are dis- 
turbed — I never knew why they stopped in this house for — Jac should 
have caught them before this; they cannot eat the jewelry: — what do 
they want here — hish, hish —what's that, the rain and the wind is bad 
enough but as for rats, hish, hish be off, be off.'' 

(He looks around and kneels down again and begins to empty safe. 
Jaggers comes from Piano, goes over to Daddj'^ and seizes him. Daddy 
look sup and tries to cry. Jaggers takes him by the throat and chokes 
him.) 

Jaggers. — " Dar dat will do, one cry and you are a dead man, 
be quiet and no harm will be done you. He forces daddy in a chair — 
takes ropes that are lying near trunks and ties him — takes gag from his 
pocket and puts it in Baddy's mouth. Now keep still Daddy Noah 
and take things sensible and it will be the best thing for you.'' 

(Jaggers kneels at safe and begins putting watches and jewelry 
in bag around his neck. Daddy gets one hand loose and unties 
gag from his mouth). 

Daddy. — Orying, " Murder! murder ! Jaggers comes over to him 
and places his handover his mouth. Daddy sti^uggles with him and 
cries murder ! murder ! 

Jaggers.— Taking out life preserver. " You will have it. Hits him. 
Dar take dat. Daddy sinks in chair, voices outside and noise. An 
alarm, they won't sleep long after that, but it takes time to shake 
off sleep. I may yet escape, a poor man has to take many chances 
for a living. I will take what I can get I will not go empty handed. 
He goes to safe and puts jewelry, watches and money in hag — voices out- 
side. What noise was that. Listens. Some one is coming by the 
front door." Goes up C. and listens^ 

Jac. — Appears on stairway with candle. Aside. "I thought I heard 
the cry of murder." 

Jaggers. — " Some one is at de front door. I will try de stairway. 
Takes up lantern which he has laid on the stage near Daddy. Looking at 
Daddy. Ah, I ought to stamp de life out of you. You idiot to cry out 
— ha! ha! ha! I'm loaded now." 

(He starts towards stairway — Jac who has been listening is com- 
ing down — They meet). 



63 

Jac. — Dropping candle and seizing Jaggers by the throat. Murder ! 
Burgler. Galling. Charley — Charley." 

Jaggers. — " Let go your holt girl, let me go." 

Jac. — " Never, never. Galling — Help! Murder!" 
(A fierce struggle down the steps — Jaggers tries to hit Jac. with 
life preserver. She bites him on the hand, he drops it and dark 
lantern, they struggle over towards C. where trunks are ; Jaggers 
trips over trunks and falls. Jac. throws herself on him and holds 
him down). "Murder! murder! Charley — Charley." 

Gharley appears on top of steps with lighted candle. Lights up. 

Charley. — On top of steps. " What's the matter ? What is it Jae. ? ', 

Jac. — " Come down Charley. Struggling to keep Jaggers down. I've 
got him. I've got him." 

Charley. Rushing down steps. " Got who ? " 

Jac. — "The burgler. Here he is." 

Charley. — '^Buns down — seizes Jaggers — Noise at door G. "I'll 
hold him Jac. while you open the door." 

(Jac. goes up and unbolts the door — Enter Mayden, John Martin, 
Ruth, Raymond and two detectives). 

Mayden. — Speaking as he enters. " Where's Daddy Noah?" 

Jac— "Who wants daddy Noah?" 

(Dectives run and seize Jaggers and put handcuffs on him and 
raise him on his feet and turn dark lantern on his face). 

John. — Recognizing Jaggers. "What Jaggers !'' 

Mayden. — " Oh you know him — you are an acquaintance are you, 
we shall come to something I guess." 

Raymond.— ^mn^r Gharley. " What are you doing here, sir ?" 

Charley. — " Why helping Jac, to capture a burglar." 

Jac — Looking at Daddy. " Poor Daddy is murdered by that vil- 
lian — points to Jaggers — he came to rob the Ark ; see the safe is open 
and its contents gone — he has killed the poor old man — run fetch a 
doctor," 



64 

Mayden. — " Stop! I want to speak to Daddy Isoah. Goes down to 
him. Well Daddy how are you." 

Daddy. — Recovering. "Gab-bo. What is it all about. Looks 
a/round. Ah I remember and so you heard him — to Jac. — and come 
down and called the police. Ah, I see yon, no I don't ah, my head 
ah, oh." (Puts his hands which Jac. has untied to his head.) 

Mayden. — " Well Daddy Noah I am here, you know me." 

Daddy. — "Oh yes dear me — my humble Ark is honored by the pres- 
ence of the great Mr. Mayden, the good Mr. Mayden of the firm of 
Mayden & Co., the great jeweler — ah such an honor such an honor." 

Mayden. — " Daddy Noah — I brought a diamond to you the other 
night that belonged to this gentleman — points to John — you pro- 
nounced it a pure stone — you put it in your pocket as if in a joke — it 
has been changed to this — holds up false stone — come explain." 

Jaggeks. — " One minute, I will explain all. Daddy Noah and I are 
old friends — he ain't particular what he says. ' My dear Joe,' says he, 
you see he always calls me Joe. ' My dear Joe.,' says he, ' Mayden & 
Co., the great jewelers, have a very large diamond which they 
bought from John Martin, but where he got it my dear Jaggers, I 
don't know. Come,' says he, ' my dear Jaggers, advise me,' said he. 
No, said I, my dear daddy, I have given up all such biz. — ' I have it 
then,' says he. 'I have a sham diamond and I will be called on to 
test the real diamond, I will change the stones, and when I have 
done it so come to me at night and I will whack up with you.'" 

Daddy. — ''Kill him ; kill him, pour melted copper down his throat. 
Puts his hand in the pocket in which the diamond is — Jaggers seeing 
action. 

Jaggeks. — " He's got it in his pocket — now search him and see." 
(Detectives go to Daddy and after a struggle search him — they 
find real diamond and hold it up.) 

Mayden. — (Takes diamond from detective and looking at it.) "You 
old scoundrel." 

Jaggers. — To John. " It^s all right, Martin old pard, give me your 
hand — looking at handouts — but I forgot I can't take it now, on ac- 
count of dese bracelets — but we are old pards all the samS, we found 
the diamond — now what's the reward, dat's the question?" 



65 

John. — Looking at him. " Viper/' 

Ja.qgers. — "John Martin you orter be polite." 

John. — "I scorn you." ^"^^^'k 

Jaggerr. — " Ah very well — Murder ! Murder !" 

Raymond. — "^What means this ?" 

Jaggers. — " Seize him. Seize the murderer. I saw him do it. 
I denounce John Martin as the murderer of a dialSiond merchant, 
Mr. Belmont. Enter Belmont from door injiat — sees Belmont. What 
de dead alive.'' 

Belmont. — " John Martin is innocent of my attempted murder, 
the man who struck and robbed me is there. Points to Jaggers. 

John. — Looking at Belmont, " He lives, he lives.'^ 

Belmont. — " After that fellow struck and robbed me of my watch, 
I think I swooned, I had a dream of fire — for when I regained con- 
sciousness I found myself in a burning building ; the smoke must have 
revived me — I have been afflicted with heart disease for years — I 
wandered from the burning building into the street where I fell ; I 
was picked up for dead and carried to the hospital, where I have 
remained until to-night, and followed the officers here to claim my 
diamond. '^ 

Daddy. — Excited. " That's his voice- -let me kill kin? ! He gets up 
and rushes at Belmont and attem,pts to strangle him. He is the man 
who ruined my poor child, my Rachel, and then deserted her." 

Belmont. — " Mr. Noah, your daughter Rachel was my lawful wife, 
we were married secretly, as she feared your anger for having mar- 
ried one not of her own faith. That is the reason she kept our 
marriage a secret from you. Our daughter was stolen from us in her 
infancy — the loss of that child broke her heart. She went with me 
to Africa, where she died two years ago." 

Jaggers. — "I will make another confesssion in the hopes it may 
plead in my behalf. Daddy Noah tempted me to steal dat child. I 
was young then and innocent hearted, but dat act changed the whole 
course of my life. Remorse for dat crime — weeps — so preyed uponme 
dat I became what I am now, a broken-hearted reckless man. " 

Daddy. — " Then Rachel was your wife, ha, ha, ha; — why I thought 



66 

you had ruined her and I was determined to be even with you, child 
for child — Rachel's child that I have for years treated as my slave — 
starved and beaten stands there/' Points to Jac. 

Belmont. — Rushing and embracing Jojc. "My child; my long lost 
chijd." 

Jac. — " What ! You my father and Daddy my grand-father ? Oh 
Charley, here*s a go, I found a father and grand-father." 

Charley. — *' Yes and there's but one more for you to find and that 
is a father-in-law." Points to Raymond. 

Raymond. — "Well Charley I'll talk it over with Mr. Belmont." 

Jac. — " Come Daddy, the flood has subsided; the Ark has landed on 
Mount Arrarat at last — let us turn out the beast — points to Jaggers — 
and joyously go forth to re-people the earth." 



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